Vice-Chancellor's message
The University of Melbourne will be celebrating its 150th Anniversary
in 2003. Mindful of our responsibilities, the working party that guides
the planning for the event has chosen as one of the Anniversary themes
"Giving to students and the community".
The University would like to leave a living legacy, rather than bricks-and-mortar,
to commemorate this important milestone. We have therefore agreed to
establish The 2003 Scholarships, a new access scholarship
program that will assist students from disadvantaged communities complete
their secondary schooling and progress to tertiary education in a context
that is relevant to them. These are not necessarily scholarships for
students to come to the University of Melbourne; we will support a good
number of students who are pursuing their education at institutions
elsewhere.
The University will fund this program from its own resources, rather
than through a public appeal, affirming our fundamental commitment to
nurturing the aspirations of young people for a civilizing education
at the most general level.
One such program is already in place in rural Thailand where the University
is assisting a number of young women to complete their secondary education.
By mid-2001, 39 students had graduated with the University's support.
Sixteen went on to further education, and a further 18 are employed
in jobs that required prior completion of senior secondary school.
It is difficult to think of many other examples where a comparatively
modest investment makes such a significant difference to the lives of
individuals.
We are now working on detailed arrangements for similar programs for
East Timor, and for disadvantaged students in Australia from indigenous
communities.
Further details of the 2003 Scholarships will be announced during the
150th Anniversary celebrations next year.
Alan D. Gilbert
Vice-Chancellor
To request further information, or to let us have your comments
about the 2003 Scholarships, send a message to 150th-anniversary@unimelb.edu.au
