 |
||||
|
 |
|||
|
 |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
||||||||
|
Fulbright New Zealand has launched a major corporate fundraising initiative to increase the number of graduate student awards it can offer each year.
The NZ Friends of Fulbright Campaign was announced at an award presentation held in August at the Grand Hall of Parliament attended by potential sponsors, current Fulbright grantees and distinguished alumni from around the country. Fulbright New Zealand's Executive Director Jennifer Gill said that although the New Zealand government had just increased its annual contribution to the programme by $200,000, additional funding was needed to give more young New Zealanders access to the awards. "We believe that business leaders must get involved to ensure that we are making the most of all opportunities to build stronger, knowledge-based economies," she said. Suzanne Snively, chair of Fulbright New Zealand's Board of Directors, said the campaign aimed to raise $100,000 per annum which would enable two or three more graduate students to be sent to the US every year. "Your involvement with Fulbright New Zealand will not only offer support to an organisation rich in history and experience, but will also directly contribute to a programme that is creating social, artistic, political, academic and business links between New Zealand and the United States," Ms Snively told potential sponsors attending the event. "These links form the backbone of the networks that are needed for modern nations to achieve success in the global economy." Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Phil Goff said Fulbright New Zealand's present programmes contributed innovation to the economies of both New Zealand and the US. "By offering young New Zealanders the opportunity to study at some of the top universities in the world, as well as attracting US academics and students to New Zealand, Fulbright is contributing to New Zealand's future as an innovative and dynamic nation," he said. Guest of honour at the event was Harriet Fulbright, Senator Fulbright's widow and one of the United States' most respected and internationally recognised educational and cultural leaders. Since Senator Fulbright's death she has taken on the role of unofficial ambassador for the Fulbright Programme, travelling to many countries to advocate and promote the importance of international cultural exchange. She last visited New Zealand in 1996. Mrs Fulbright presented certificates to this year's recipients of Fulbright graduate awards -- eleven New Zealanders who have since departed to take up their studies in the United States and eleven Americans who are currently undertaking postgraduate study at New Zealand universities (see details on page 3 of the Fulbright Quarterly). In her speech, Mrs Fulbright described nationalism as the most powerful and dangerous single force in contemporary world politics. "Dividing communities against one another, it has become a universal force at precisely the time in history when technology has made the world a single unit in the physical sense -- interdependent for economic, political, and cultural purposes and profoundly interdependent for survival in the nuclear age." She said the world's problems could no longer be solved by individuals, groups or single countries and needed a worldwide network of intelligent and dedicated leaders working together. Harriet Fulbright's speechHarriet Fulbright's speech is available as a PDF:
PhotosView the Grand Hall award presentation photos. Friends of FulbrightIf you would like to become a 'Friend of Fulbright', please contact Matt Huntington. |
||||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
 |
|
|
hfulbright-speech.pdf