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€200m to have one's name up in lights?

A curious tale from Germany, where Klaus Jacobs has offered a €200m donation to the International University of Bremen, with the sort of quid pro quo being that it changes its name to the Jacobs University. Which is not a huge amount to ask in return for a rather large sum, especially given that it is a private institution and was on the verge of bankruptcy.

Further digging shows that the university is on a converted military base, and the item ends with this sizeable sting in the tale: '"Why didn't Jacobs give his millions to his own alma mater, the University of Hamburg? "They didn't ask," he said'.

I wonder what I could get for a fiver?

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 08, 2006 at 2:19 pm. You can skip to the end and leave a response.

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12 comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said... 3:11 pm

I wonder what percentage of GDP we spend on education  



Blogger Croydonian said... 3:19 pm

If the Treasury is to believed, it will reach 5.6% in 2007-2008. Details here.  



Blogger Stan Bull said... 5:20 pm

The German higher education is one of the most statist and rigid in the Western world.Stıltified, free-market averse, and archaic. Even though the German university is under financed and over flowing with students. They won't take the Jacobs cash. Not a chance.  



Blogger Stan Bull said... 5:21 pm

The German higher education system is one of the most statist and rigid in the Western world.Stultified, free-market averse, and archaic. Even though the German university is under financed and over flowing with students. They won't take the Jacobs cash. Not a chance.  



Blogger Rigger Mortice said... 6:07 pm

I went to university in scotland,I wouldn't want them to anme it after me.  



Blogger The Hitch said... 6:14 pm

For 200 million I would want it changed to something like the joseph goebells school of ballroom dancing , just for fun  



Anonymous Anonymous said... 7:25 pm

How nice that a university in Germany will carry the name of The Jacob Sisters.  



Anonymous Anonymous said... 8:29 pm

Peter

joseph goebells school of ballroom dancing is political correct because of his clubfoot. Here his picture.  



Blogger dearieme said... 10:00 pm

If he gave that sort of money to Cambridge, they'd probably name a College after him. Or two: Jacobs College and Cracker Hall.  



Blogger The Hitch said... 11:07 pm

How about
The Pol Pot university of soduku?  



Anonymous Anonymous said... 11:46 pm

Pol Pot university of soduku?

My absolute favorite.  



Blogger Croydonian said... 11:55 pm

I think a fair few Oxbridge colleges are named for their benefactors.

Apparently the authorities at the sundry colleges used to answer the phone thus: 'Trinity', 'Christ Church' etc, and most importantly for the benefit of this tale, 'Jesus' - giving rise to the popular stunt of ringing the place on the 25th of December, waiting for the answer and then singing 'Happy Birthday'... Apparently.  



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