2020 College of Design and Social Context Donor Report

College of Design and Social Context 2020 Annual Donor Report

Associate Director’s message This past year changed our lives and community in extraordinary ways, and its impact was felt keenly at RMIT. Academics made the future of online learning happen now, racing forward to deliver quality education in new and exciting ways.

Students responded in kind, swiftly adapting to these new learning styles and succeeding in the face of global change and uncertainty.

You also stepped up to the challenges of last year by supporting our Student Hardship and Frontline Scholarships Appeals. In difficult times, it takes the strength of a community to make an impact and you were that community for the many who needed it.

Established over 130 years ago through the philanthropic leadership of Francis Ormond, RMIT was built on community generosity.

In 2020 alone, you and your fellow donors supported 8,000 relief grants and 400 food and care packages for students in need during the pandemic, 697 philanthropic scholarships and prizes, and 30 tech grants for Vocational Education students. Your commitment to supporting the University is changing lives and those who have benefitted from your kindness are sure to pay it forward in future.

Over the last year, we conducted a thorough review of the RMIT Philanthropy Fund to increase governance and deliver greater strategic growth to maximise your impact at the University. The new fund structure also reflects our ongoing commitment to investments with positive environmental, social and governance characteristics in line with the RMIT Responsible Investment Principles. Therefore, we have exited the Low Carbon Global Shares Fund and invested into a new Sustainable Global Shares ex Fossil Fuels Fund, which excludes companies with fossil fuel reserves, as well as those with significant involvement in fossil fuels. Just as you support RMIT to create better opportunities for our future leaders, we want to be sure that your donation shapes the world for the better too.

Thank you for your continued support of RMIT and the students, researchers and staff who make our institution great. We hope you enjoy reading about the incredible impact your generosity has at the University.

Amy Harrington Associate Director, Philanthropy RMIT University

Ariana Kikkert

2020 in numbers Total number of philanthropic scholarships issued

611

Recipient of accommodation scholarship

“This Scholarship is a true aid and makes me feel as though it is not just myself being supported, but also my family.”

Scholarship recipients from a low SES background achieved success rates seven percentage points higher than all domestic students who did not receive a scholarship, and eight percentage points higher than low SES students who did not receive a scholarship* *2019 figures

280 College of Design and Social Context

255 STEM College

76 College of Business and Law

$2.8m

30

400

8,000

philanthropic funds disbursed across RMIT

Tech Grants supported for Vocational Education students

students received philanthropically funded emergency food and care packages during the pandemic

relief grants were awarded to students during the COVID-19 crisis, generously supported by donors

366

E-week

184

97%

students supported through the Global Leader Experience online

Jacques Nasser supported Entrepreneurship Week (E-week) to move online

attendees at the online 2020 Impact Series

of scholarship recipients felt their scholarship to be very important or extremely important in supporting them to continue their studies

College of Design and Social Context Scholarship student creates RMIT’s new Indigenous branding Kamilaroi artist and Bachelor of Fashion (Design) student Louisa Bloomer has won a competition to have her artwork featured as RMIT’s Indigenous branding design.

Titled Leaves of Change, the design was inspired by sunlight flickering on gum trees in Louisa’s backyard.

It also depicts the fresh start many of us have been craving in 2021.

“After COVID-19 and 2020 changed all our lives, I really wanted to depict 2021 with a freshness and boldness in the colours of the work,” said Louisa.

“The leaves in the image are swirling and that’s like, your ideas swirl into the new year, and the brightness and cleanness is what I’m hoping our lives will be like this year.”

Louisa joined RMIT through the Fashion Guaranteed Pathway, with a Certificate IV in Textile Design and Development, followed by an Associate Degree in Fashion Design and Technology, before commencing her Bachelor of Fashion (Design).

She credits Ngarara Willim with helping her on this path and throughout her studies.

“The whole way through, Ngarara Willim have been available to help me with anything I’ve needed and made me feel a part of the community,” said Louisa.

“With the aid of Ngarara Willim I’ve looked at incorporating my Indigenous background into my work a lot more.

“It’s been great to have them sharing information about other students and alumni, and about other Aboriginal peoples in the community doing amazing things.”

During her Associate Degree, Louisa also received the support of the Santa Singh and Balwant Kaur Scholarship, which had an “incomparable” impact on her life and studies.

“I am so greatly humbled to be selected for the Scholarship and I don’t think I can ever truly explain the impact it had on my life, studies and mental health, or my appreciation. One day I hope to be to in a place where I can offer this sort of support to someone in a similar position.”

College of Design and Social Context Contemporary craft collection donated to RMIT Last year, RMIT welcomed the donation of the Bluestone Collection of contemporary Australian craft.

Significant to the University given its commitment to teaching and researching craft practice, the Collection will be displayed within RMIT’s Carlton Library.

The Collection was started over 10 years ago by a dedicated group of craft supporters, who privately funded each purchase with the aim of building a collection that promotes current Australian craft exhibition practice and fosters critical dialogue.

RMIT’s Manager, Collections and Archives Elizabeth Marsden is delighted that the University has added this outstanding holding of works to its collections.

"The RMIT University Art Collection has been a source of community inspiration and enjoyment for over 120 years. This important acquisition builds upon this history and enhances the significance, relevance and research potential of the University's cultural assets for the benefit of contemporary audiences and scholarship."

RMIT alumnus, artist and a member of the Bluestone Collection, Bin Dixon-Ward said it was always the intention to donate the Collection of ambitious works to an institution once it reached maturity.

“The members of the Bluestone Collection are delighted to see the works from our first 10 years of collecting find a permanent at home at RMIT. More than half of the works in the Bluestone Collection are by alumni or artists currently teaching at RMIT. “The donation of the Bluestone Collection to RMIT offers the opportunity for future students, researchers and the wider arts community to have access to the 21 pieces of craft, including, ceramics, textiles, metalwork and contemporary jewellery.”

College of Design and Social Context Today’s leaders inspire the next generation RMIT recently held its first entirely digital Global Leadership Forum, inviting more than 3,000 students and staff to hear from visionary not-forprofit, brand and startup leaders tackling the biggest challenges and opportunities we face globally.

The Global Leadership Forum is a collaboration between RMIT and Common Purpose, a global leadership organisation devoted to developing leaders in work and society. The event featured 20 masterclasses focusing on leadership, the future world-of-work, physical and mental wellness, cultural intelligence, Indigenous activism, and sustainability.

Vice-Chancellor and President Martin Bean CBE opened the event and welcomed the honourable Julia Gillard AC as introductory keynote speaker, as well as Common Purpose CEO, Adi Sengupta.

As current Chair of Beyond Blue – Australia’s biggest mental health and wellbeing support organisation – Gillard discussed the importance of having ‘healthy minds in uncertain times’ and how important routine can be.

“Before the pandemic, we had a very knowable rhythm to our day. In this period, Beyond Blue is advising people to think about how you can find a structure to your day,” said Gillard.

Award-winning artist and RMIT alumnus Vincent Fantauzzo presented the closing keynote and discussed how the world of work was changing.

“The rule book, what the world was in the past, is out the door. It's a time where anyone can achieve anything. If you have love from your family or peers, the people you look up to, if you have their love and support and confidence, you can achieve whatever you want to,” said Fantauzzo.

Like many industries, the education sector is undergoing rapid change to prepare students for the changing world of work.

Gillard, who was Minister for Education from 2007-10, said education institutions like RMIT are powerful change agents for people of all ages.

“RMIT is at the forefront of offering those opportunities to students who don't come from a background of privilege, and that is such a powerful change agent.

Education made me what I am today, it opened up a world of opportunity where through those years of education, I came to understand a lot of myself and what I wanted to do."

For the past two years, the McCall McBain Foundation has supported the RMIT and Common Purpose partnership through the RMIT Global Leader Experience (GLE). In 2020 alone, the GLE ensured that more than 360 RMIT student worldwide grew their cross-cultural leadership and competency skills. Of these students, 97 per cent felt they could better understand other cultures thanks to the experience and 96 per cent felt better prepared to solve complex problems.

RMIT Philanthropy GPO Box 2476 Melbourne VIC 3001 Australia 03 9925 5220 giving@rmit.edu.au