policy & reform
Oxford University, England
Harvard University, USA
Since the focus of universities is no longer on simple, regular form letters to their database of alumni, there is concerted effort directed to creative strategies that drive, and increase, awareness of the strengths of each centre of learning.
Such are the requirements of philanthropic funding in the Australian university market. Education is an increasingly competitive affair, so there is much to be learned from observing various academic centres array themselves strategically in the marketplace.
“ Philanthropic and other non-government funding provides the potential for the university to undertake teaching activities, support the best and the brightest students and conduct research that would otherwise be unable to occur,” says Sue Cunningham.
Cunningham is vice-principal of
advancement at the University of Melbourne. She believes that philanthropic and non-government funding will become elemental in future years for all universities. Philanthropy, she says, will eventually have to replace federal government funding, but it’ s also a necessity, because of the nation’ s growing need for greater research facilities.
“ It is not simply a case of addressing funding shortfalls,” says Cunningham.
“ Philanthropy has the power to transform universities, and transform the lives of the individuals and communities who benefit from the teaching and research undertaken by those institutions.
“ Government funding has changed fundamentally over past decades, and this has compelled universities to look at alternative sources of funding in order to compete with leading institutions worldwide.”
The act of philanthropy It’ s said that all acts of charity are equal in motivation, and though there may be lingering perceptions of philanthropy as a kind of‘ high-end’ charity, there have been some generous donations made to Australian universities of late.
Certainly, none have been so large or wellreported as the $ 50 million offered to the Australian National University by billionaire former student Graham Tuckwell, in the form of a Rhodes-style scholarship. The Tuckwell Scholarship Program begins in 2014, with each scholarship paying $ 20,000 annually to 25 starting undergraduates each year for up to five years.
Last October, successful businessman and one-time Sydney University student, John Grill, donated $ 20 million to establish a world-first project management education centre. Sydney University had previously raised $ 19.8 million 12 months earlier from the sale of a Picasso.
The Picasso proceeds took the 2011 philanthropic haul at Sydney University to $ 79 million. Grill ' s contribution in 2012 boosted the coffers to between $ 75 million and $ 80 million.
While such generosity will inspire others, Sue Cunningham is adamant that coups like these must not simply supplement existing programs and activities.
www. campusreview. com. au April 2013 | 19