Academic Governance

The late Mr Tsuneichi Fujii was a successful Japanese businessman who had a long association through major business dealings with Tasmania.  In 1985 the Tsuneichi Fujii Fellowship Trust was established in Tasmania through a generous gift of $50,000 from Mr Fujii.  The purposes of the Trust included establishing and developing cultural, business and educational exchanges between Tasmania and Japan.

In April 2007 the Trust was formally wound-up.  The balance of funds held by the Trust was made available, with the approval of the Tsuneichi Fujii Fellowship Trustees, for the establishment of a Tsuneichi Fujii Scholarship program overseen by the University of Tasmania Foundation to support study exchanges for Tasmanian and Japanese postgraduate students across a range of disciplines, and to develop stronger links between cultures.

The University of Tasmania has connections with universities in Japan and this scholarship will provide opportunities to enhance these relationships and to promote greater understanding of Japan for Tasmanian students.

The Academic Senate of the University has agreed to the establishment of an endowed scholarship.  These are the rules:

Rules

1. An amount of $149,621.77 allocated from the wound-up Tsuneichi Fujii Fellowship Trust (the Trust) to the University of Tasmania Foundation, together with any future donations and accrued interest (the Scholarship Fund), forms the endowment of a scholarship to be called the “Tsuneichi Fujii Scholarship” (the Scholarship).
2. The income generated by the Scholarship Fund will be used to provide for eligible postgraduate students:  
   • as a first priority, a travelling or study exchange scholarship in the area of business, agriculture, marine studies or education between the University of Tasmania and a designated university (or universities) in Japan; or  
   • as deemed appropriate, a scholarship at the University of Tasmania to support study and research in areas connected with Japan.
3. The Scholarship will be determined by a selection committee comprising:  
   • the Chair of Academic Senate, or nominee; 
   • the Director of the University of Tasmania International Services, or nominee; 
   • any two of Mr Peter Shelley, Mr Don Blew or Emeritus Professor Coleman O’Flaherty (the Former Trustees) but where two or more of the Former Trustees resign or otherwise vacate office, the vacated position(s) will be filled by a single person nominated by the Vice Chancellor
4. The selection committee will set the detailed selection and performance criteria with regard to these rules, the terms of the Trust and the intention of the Tsuneichi Fujii Fellowship Trustees as communicated to the University prior to establishing the endowment at the University.
5. The Scholarship is tenable within a given year subject to the student: 
   • continuing in full-time postgraduate study in a course at the University of Tasmania or a designated Japanese university, or in part-time postgraduate study if approved by the selection committee; and 
   • continuing to make, in the opinion of the selection committee in its absolute discretion,  satisfactory progress in that course.
6. The selection committee may extend the Scholarship for a particular student for another year if it considers, in its absolute discretion, that the student’s program and progress merits an extension.
7. The University Foundation, after consultation with the selection committee, will from time to time set the annual value of the Scholarship having regard to the income from the endowment.
8. The selection committee, in consultation with the Tasmania Scholarships Office, will determine all other matters concerning the Scholarship, including advertising, application procedures and the method and time of payment.

Made by Academic Senate on 24 July 2009