Indian students studying in University of Otago need not worry about financial shortfall as a fund has been created for those facing monetary hardship
The University of Otago, New Zealand has committed $1.5 million as an initial investment to support its students facing financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19.
Named Putea Tautoko — financial support — the fund is a way for the university community to support its students facing the greatest need in extraordinary times.
Professor Harlene Hayne, VC of the university said: “This fund is an important way for us to show and provide meaningful support for those students facing greatest need. In addition to the university contribution, we will also ask our wider community to contribute to this fund.”
All students will be eligible to apply to the fund, whether they are New Zealand or international students, full-time or part-time, undergraduate or postgraduate. The fund is launched with the support of the Otago University Students Association.
Applications will be considered by several panels, all including student representation.
The panels will robustly assess hardship, using tools we already have to assess applications for existing hardship funds, and for our needs-based scholarships.
Professor Hayne notes that Putea Tautoko will be the largest hardship initiative in the university's history.
“The size of our response is commensurate with the extraordinary times we are in. It is also consistent with the founding ethos of our university which was based on the principle of egalitarianism.
“We are running out of words to describe the impact this virus has had on our community, our country and the world. But we have also seen extraordinary kindness and generosity as a result, and I believe this fund will be a way for our community to express our support for students in a concrete way,” he said.
The Chancellor, Dr Royden Somerville QC, said: “There was unanimous support for the establishment of this very timely and important initiative.”
Applications for the fund open in early May. Information will be made available to students then.