Inyathelo: The South African Institute for Advancement hosted its second Spring School for Advancement and Fundraising Practitioners working in Higher Education from the 3^rd to the 5^th of September 2012.

This three-day learning event was designed to build the capacity of Advancement and fundraising practitioners, university academics and administrators  involved in donor management, community-building or the implementation of strategies to secure financial and other support for their higher education institutions.

Spring School 2012 provided a focused, consolidated skills development and peer-learning opportunity and explored critical aspects of Advancement - including prospect research; donor stewardship; building a base of alumni support; communications and branding; and much more.

Sessions were facilitated by leading local and international players in institutional Advancement such as Brian Kish (University of Arizona), Lori Yersh (McGill University), Beth Bandy (International Fundraising Intelligence), Israel Noko (NPI Governance Consulting) and Pieter Swart (Nelson Mandela  Metropolitan University). This year’s event attracted 80 participants from 21 universities across South Africa as well as regional representation from Botswana.

The opening plenary for the event was conducted by Brian O’Connell from the University of the Western Cape, who gave insights on 'Why universities matter', and what building a knowledge culture for the future means. He stressed the importance of giving to higher education and the survival of our universities as crucial to our very existence as a species.

Brian Kish also made a presentation on the 'Growing culture of giving to higher education using lessons learnt around the globe'. He focused on ideas, themes and concepts of giving in the US, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Gaby Ritchie, Inyathelo's Programme Director, concluded the 3-day event in her closing plenary by speaking on social justice philanthropy and its meaning and implications for Higher Education Advancement.