AIFMRM’s Donor Day celebrates a world-renowned institute

It takes a lot of hard work, dedication—and the commitment from donors to create an institute like AIFMRM. Over the past 10 years, it has gained a global reputation for cutting-edge research and real-world industry contribution—which would not have been possible without the funding and involvement of donor institutions like FirstRand, Sanlam, Old Mutual, Standard Bank, Nedbank and ABSA.

Every year since 2014, AIFMRM has hosted a Donor Day, an event that sees current students get the chance to speak with AIFMRM graduates working at donor institutions. Students hear about the world of work, while donors network with and support the next generation of financial professionals.

Collectively, FirstRand, Sanlam, Old Mutual, Standard Bank, Nedbank and ABSA have contributed over R135 million since AIFMRM’s inception. Almost every single student at the institute is the recipient of a bursary from one of the donors and has a job lined up at the bursar institution or elsewhere. AIFMRM’s Donor Day gives graduates representing those institutions the chance to connect with, support, and celebrate current students.

This year’s event took place on Friday, 7 March, at the Kelvin Grove Pavilion. Students gathered at their roundtables while AIFMRM founder and director, Professor David Taylor, introduced proceedings.

“To go from nothing to a world-renowned research unit in 10 years took a lot of hard work and talent,” Professor Taylor reflected. “And it also took a lot of funding, which wouldn’t have been achieved without the generosity of our donors.”

Professor Taylor took a moment to express what it is exactly that these institutions provide: the financial boons, such as bursaries and scholarships for the students. But then, too, there was their deep integration with the institute itself: at times, donors are involved in teaching; some staff act as external examiners, all help with the design of AIFMRM’s degrees. Additionally, they assist with research – from suggesting research topics to supervision itself.

Finally, most graduates leave AIFMRM with employment secured at one of FirstRand, Sanlam, Old Mutual, Standard Bank, Nedbank or ABSA. Certain of those graduates were present at the 2025 Donor Day, leading the roundtables, discussing work in the financial industry as well as reflecting on their own time studying at AIFMRM.

“It doesn’t get easier,” one graduate reflected. “You just get stronger.”

Another said: “I haven’t heard anybody say they have regretted doing one of these degrees. They all pushed through and ended up in unique positions where they were trusted with a lot more aspects of work than people who hadn’t come through the programme. You’ve also got to make that count – use this opportunity.”

Students enjoyed a buffet, drinks, and networking sessions among themselves, AIFMRM’s staff, and donors.

Prof Taylor expressed gratitude to both our students and graduates for their time and the generosity of their questions and answers and to the institutions for their continuous support.

“Without this, we would not have the exceptional research and teaching unit that we have today.”