BALLIOL COLLEGE ANNUAL REPORT 2016
Donations towards capital projects enable Balliol to invest in its future In 2014 a major refurbishment was undertaken of the College Kitchen, last upgraded during the 1960s, a project completed on time and to our budget of £3.8m. This investment has delivered a modern facility for the College that will allow us to serve our students, Fellows and Old Members well for many decades, and which has become a safer, more productive and creative environment. The project has reduced cooking times, has improved
Over the last decade the College has invested gifts and bequests from Old Members towards capital projects and refurbishments which provide for the future of our academic community. Increasingly, the College has sought to make the most of these investments, especially during the long vacation, by growing our income from conferences, functions and banqueting. During the last ten years, these new sources of income have increased by over 400%.
‘Although Balliol has achieved a series of improved financial out-turns, together with retention of surpluses in the reserves and transferred to the endowment, it has significant future capital commitments to support teaching and research and a programme of expenditure to maintain and renew its buildings. Academic and student support expenditure are our most significant costs and far exceed the income the College receives from student fees. Notwithstanding these challenges, the College will continue to manage its sources of income effectively, invest its endowment carefully and manage its costs efficiently in order to generate the positive long-term cash flows needed to ensure its pre-eminent position.’ Dick Collier, Finance Bursar
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Total income from conferences, functions and entrance charges has risen by 415% over the past 10 years.
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£2,000,000 £1,800,000 £1,600,000 £1,400,000 £1,200,000 £1,000,000 £800,000 £600,000 £400,000 £200,000 £0
efficiency and consistency when cooking for large groups of people, and has provided a lift for disabled access into the Hall. All surplus income from conferences and banqueting is invested for the benefit of our students and Fellows, making the most of support from Old Members whose gifts have helped us to maintain and improve our estates and facilities.
‘In 2009, Balliol’s income from conferences stood at 26th amongst all colleges; in the current year we are 7th and have been in the top 10 for the last four years. Credit for this huge improvement must go to our housekeeping, lodge and catering teams, the Conference and Events Manager, and of course our Domestic Bursar, who have worked exceptionally hard to deliver this significant new income to Balliol; they have made the most of the College’s investments in capital projects and refurbishment of our facilities, which benefit our students and Fellows first and foremost.’ Dick Collier, Finance Bursar
Norrington Table success In 2015 Balliol had its best set of exam results for seven years, putting us in fourth place in the Norrington Table, a comparative ranking of all the colleges’ exam performance. In recent years the strongest exam results have usually been obtained by the colleges with the greatest financial resources, so it’s very good news that we’ve managed to do so well. We shouldn’t rest on our laurels: the Norrington Table can fluctuate a lot from year to year, and more importantly, our goal is academic excellence across the board and can’t be too focused on a single number. But last year’s results are a real triumph for our students – helped, we like to think, by great teaching through the unique tutorial system – and we hope they’re a sign of things to come. Professor David Wallace, Clarendon University Lecturer and Tutor in Philosophy, Professor of the Philosophy of Physics and Vice-Master (Academic)
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