UCT weathered the global financial storms well, according to fundraising tallies recently released by the Development and Alumni Department (DAD).

For example, the first quarter of the year, January to March, saw over R60.2 million come in from a broad range of foundations, corporations and individuals to support a wide variety of projects currently under way on campus. This record first quarter follows on the heels of a two-year (2008 and 2009) donation count of some R327 million, 39% higher than any previous two-year period. Not bad, given the economic downturn.

UCT kept up the impetus into the second quarter of 2010. The half-year figure came in at R88.8 million, a record for any half-year period in UCT's history.

"This is a real tribute to the work and reputation of our academics, and a mark of the high esteem in which they are regarded in the donor world," said Vice-Chancellor Dr Max Price.

Added Dr Jim McNamara, executive director of DAD: "Despite the dismal state of the world economy in recent years and the corresponding drop in donations to most universities and charities, UCT's academic leaders have nevertheless managed to continue to prove that they were worthy of significant donor support. That really is quite an impressive achievement on their part."