15 December 2021
Dear all,
As we reach the end of Michaelmas Term, I wanted to reflect on 2021 and wish you an enjoyable winter break.
It has been wonderful to see a return to a lively campus, with opportunities to meet, study and connect with the LSE community in-person. Whilst these last few weeks have been challenging as we navigate the shifting COVID-19 landscape, I am very proud of the way our School community has kept one another safe and supported each other throughout this period, and continues to do so.
We have all experienced incredible challenges over these past two years, and we are still collectively learning how to cope with our changed normality. Now, more than ever, we must value kindness, tolerance and respect for one another. I hope you have managed to remain connected with the School, and I encourage you to continue to look to the LSE community as a source of strength and support as we look ahead to the new year.
A year in which we achieved so much together
In 2021 we have managed to continue in our mission to educate for impact through the continuation of remote, on campus and blended delivery learning. I am proud of how resilient our talented students and staff have been, adapting to these new and different learning challenges with enthusiasm, grace and compassion.
Our research continues to be recognised for its capacity to influence and shape global policy – just last month, we were delighted to announce that the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment has been awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for its excellence and innovation.
We have welcomed a new cohort of graduates into our alumni community, and I know we can count on our alumni volunteers and global networks to help support the class of 2021. Our new Welcome to the City series demonstrated just that – our wonderful alumni groups and volunteers around the world came together to offer virtual and in-person sessions that helped new alumni embark on their next steps as LSE graduates.
While our central alumni programmes, events and activities have necessarily remained virtual, we hope that you have enjoyed being able to stay in touch with LSE across our many digital channels.
Launching our Shaping the World Campaign
Our ability to connect people globally was best demonstrated in November in the public launch of our Shaping the World Campaign. This was a landmark moment for the School, and I was delighted to see so many alumni join in the event online across the world. The sheer number of countries and regions represented by alumni joining us for the launch was a wonderful reminder – not that one was needed – of just how global the LSE community is. Thank you all for your participation and support.
During the event we outlined our ambitions to raise £350 million in philanthropic giving and to secure 100,000 hours of volunteer contributions as we seek to provide support for talented students from all backgrounds, back the world-leading research that shapes real-world policy and inspires the next generation, and create a learning environment in London, online and around the world for everyone.
We also launched our new Alumni Hub, bringing together the resources and content we hope will help you to continue benefiting from your lifelong relationship with LSE.
Please do remember that there are so many ways for you to be part of our Campaign: as alumni and friends accessing content and lifelong learning resources; as advocates; as volunteers; and as financial supporters.
Looking ahead
In 2022 we will continue to adapt to this changing world and ensure we educate and prepare our students for global impact, supporting them to develop inquisitive minds to understand the causes of things for the betterment of society.
We know our outstanding faculty will continue to advance knowledge and propose solutions to the global challenges of sustainability, social cohesion, health and wellbeing, among many others.
And we will build on the suite of online learning resources and activities we are able to offer to alumni and friends, and review our plans for in-person events and activity so that we can properly come together as soon as it is safe to do so.
Thank you for being a part of our LSE community. I wish you an enjoyable and restorative winter break, and health and happiness in 2022. I hope that wherever you’re spending the holidays, you find time to relax and catch up with family and friends.
With warm wishes,
Minouche Shafik
LSE Director