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| The Catholic University of Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium Original Goal 1998: 1 billion Belgian Francs (=c €26 million) Goal Achieved by 2002: 800 million BEF (= c €20 million)
The francophone Catholic University of Louvain (L’Université Catholique de Louvain - UcL) in Belgium is at the same time one of the oldest and one of the newest universities of Europe. Originally founded as the medieval university of Leuven (Louvain) in 1425, the separation of the French-speaking part of the university from its Flemish part and the exodus of the former in the 1970’s ‘for the sake of public peace’ resulted in the creation of a whole new university town 40 kilometres away - Louvain-la-Neuve, close to the battlefield of Waterloo. In 1997 the Rector of the University invited Brakeley to advise on how to achieve a fundraising contribution to the €20M cost of a great hall (‘Aula Magna’) – an auditorium needed to complete the university’s plan. Following a feasibility study, Brakeley advised UcL that fundraising for this purpose would be more successful as part of a general fundraising initiative to support the core activities of the University – teaching, research, and service to society. Over the succeeding two and a half years, Brakeley set up a campaign for the university, managed the establishment and programme of La Fondation Louvain (the key volunteer leadership committee), advised on the reorganisation of alumni relations, and matched essential university developments with the donors who would be likeliest to support them. La Fondation Louvain now has its own Belgian secretariat, advised occasionally by Brakeley. Nearly € 20M (800M Belgian Francs) has so far been raised to support new chairs, new initiatives in pedagogy, research programmes in medicine, engineering and business, and outreach in development areas. The magnificent Aula Magna – a contemporary masterpiece clad in glass - has been built and inaugurated. The francophone Belgian community has a university that has a clear sense of direction, worthy of its ancient pedigree. “Brakeley brought an intelligent understanding, a sound methodology, and a strong commitment to fundraising for the needs of UcL. I am delighted to recommend them at any time.” Professor Marcel Crochet, Former Recteur, UcL. |
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