Chris Rokos, the owner of a billion-dollar hedge firm, will give the University of Cambridge £190 million. This will be “the largest single donation made to a British university in modern times,” according to the university. With the intention of developing future leaders, the funds will be utilised to establish a school of government in Cambridge that bears his name.
Rokos stated that he intended to use the donation to “give something back” to the United Kingdom. In order to establish what will be known as the Rokos School of Government, Rokos will provide the university with an initial £130 million in cash plus an additional £60 million that the university will match.
Speaking about his donation, Rokos said: “I was fortunate to be given the opportunity of an education which transformed my life, and I would like to give something back to Britain. I hope that, in time, the influence of the Rokos School of Government across the world becomes an important element of that soft power which has been a great asset to the UK.”
He said that Dr Elizabeth Kendall, the president of Girton College and a friend of Rokos from their time as Oxford undergraduates, started the talks to establish this new organisation some years ago.
He claimed that in-depth discussions between them resulted in a mutual understanding of the necessity of preparing future leaders to meet new problems.
“It was becoming clear that the world was changing in new and different ways and that the processes of government needed to adapt accordingly. For me, there can be no better home for the Rokos
school of Government than Cambridge University with its long tradition of scientific innovation and synergistic culture,” he added.
He said that Dr Elisabeth Kendall, the president of Girton College and a friend of Rokos from their time as Oxford undergraduates, started the talks to establish this new organisation several years ago.
He claimed that in-depth discussions between them resulted in a mutual understanding of the necessity of preparing future leaders to meet new problems.
“It was becoming clear that the world was changing in new and different ways, and that the processes of government needed to adapt accordingly. For me, there can be no better home for the Rokos School of Government than Cambridge University with its long tradition of scientific innovation and synergistic culture”, he added.
The new Rokos School of Government will be constructed near the university’s science and technology departments on undeveloped property in the Cambridge West Innovation District.
Before a new structure is constructed and finished, operations are scheduled to start this autumn, utilising temporary facilities. PhD and master’s students will be accepted, and a faculty of political scientists, economists, statisticians, and professionals from the business and government sectors will be established.
Prof. Deborah Prentice, the vice-chancellor of the University of Cambridge, expressed gratitude for the donation.
“Thanks to Chris’ generous support, the Rokos School of Government will become a place where leaders and governments – both current and future – together with experts from across our institution generate the insights and solutions needed to respond to our rapidly changing world”, she said.
