SCOTLAND has a proud history of philanthropy, from the Enlightenment of the 18th century right up the present day.
Indeed, a Scot, Andrew Carnegie, who gave away the equivalent of £3 billion during his lifetime, is almost emblematic of the term. He famously said: "Do your duty and a little more and the future will take care of itself."
One suspects, therefore, that he would have approved of the increase in philanthropic giving to Scots universities, revealed in a survey published today. For the health of the higher education sector is vital to the future of the nation.
The figures are impressive. The 16 institutions featured in the study together secured new funds in 2013-14 amounting to £53.68m, up 27 per cent on the previous 12 months.
Our universities are facing increasing global competition, with institutions in Asia and Africa growing in strength and stature. Accordingly, the generosity of alumni is of huge significance.
Such bounty, however, can only be the icing on the cake. It should not obscure the very real challenges which lie ahead, which should be met only with continued attention to diligence and invention. As Carnegie also said: "You cannot push any one up a ladder unless he be willing to climb a little himself."
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