Academic Governance

Graeme Foster Scholarship in Education (Rule 115)

Graeme Foster was an educator for 63 continuous years, 42 with the Department of Education and 21 with the University of Tasmania. 

Born in Ulverstone in 1927 and attending Devonport High School, he was appointed principal of Manana Primary School on King Island at the age of 17. This was a common routine in 1945, with any prior experience gained through weekly teaching practice at the local primary school while in Grades 11 and 12.

After formal teacher training and gaining a degree from the University of Tasmania, Graeme was chosen as one of a team to open a new comprehensive high school at Ulverstone in 1954. At 29 years of age he was appointed Assistant Principal at Brooks High School.

Graeme always had a prime interest in the application of emerging technology to improve learning in schools. Fulbright and Ford Foundation Scholarships to study in USA strengthened this interest. He pioneered the introduction of television into Tasmanian schools in 1965 in a new role as Coordinator of Educational Television. Subsequently he became Manager of the Tasmania Media Centre and Superintendent of Curriculum Resources for the Tasmanian Education Department.

On resignation from the Education Department in 1987 Graeme undertook a number of special projects for the Vice-Chancellor at the University of Tasmania including establishing a Public Relations Unit and supporting a Scholarship Program. He also founded Education Consultants International and undertook educational projects in Southern Africa, the Maldives, India, Pakistan and China. He was awarded fellowships from both the Australian College of Education and the University of Tasmania for his contribution to education.

Graeme’s inspirational leadership and commitment to Tasmanian education have encouraged Mr John Bowden, a director of the UTAS Foundation USA, and a generous benefactor, to establish a scholarship in education in his name. The Academic Senate of the University has agreed to the foundation of an endowed scholarship. These are the rules:

Rules

1. An amount of $50,000, contributed by Mr John Bowden, a friend of Mr Graeme Foster, along with a matching amount provided by the University of Tasmania Foundation, together with any interest from time to time, forms the endowment of a scholarship valued at $4000 per annum for up to 4 years, to be called the “Graeme Foster Scholarship in Education”.
2. The scholarship is to be awarded to a student commencing an undergraduate or postgraduate degree course in education at the University of Tasmania.
3. The scholarship will be awarded by a selection committee comprising:  
   the Chair of Academic Senate or nominee
   the Dean of Education or nominee
   Ms Judith Timbs, while she wishes to be involved, and/or
   A nominee of the Foster family while they wish to be involved
4. The selection committee will set the detailed selection and performance criteria for the scholarship having regard to the intention of the donor. However, in its selection, the committee shall give preference to a talented student whose permanent home address is in the North-West of Tasmania and who wishes to teach students in their early years of schooling.
5. The scholarship is tenable for up to four years provided the student’s progress in each year of the course is considered by the selection committee to be satisfactory. 
6. The selection committee may terminate a student’s scholarship or suspend it for one year if it considers the student’s progress is unsatisfactory. If the award is suspended, the selection committee may re-award the scholarship to the same student for a following year if it considers that the student’s academic record the previous year justifies that action.
7. The Scholarships Management Committee will determine all other matters concerning the scholarship, including the frequency and number of awards, the value of each award, advertising, application procedures and the method and time of payment.
8. The Scholarships Management Committee will determine all other matters concerning the scholarship, including advertising, application procedures and the method and time of payment.

Made by Academic Senate on 13 June 2008