The University of Western Australia’s business school has received a funding boost through sponsorship agreements with two international companies.
Energy and infrastructure provider ATCO Australia and Mitsubishi Development have strengthened existing partnerships with UWA by supporting the university in a variety of areas, including teaching and research.
UWA said ATCO Australia, which is part of Canada’s ATCO Group, had confirmed its partnership with the university would be renewed for a further three years.
The sponsorship will fund an undergraduate scholarship, along with leadership events and panel discussions for the school and wider community, including the Breakfast by the Bay series.
Mitsubishi Development’s new agreement with the university is worth $350,000 over a further five years.
The sponsorship builds on a partnership established between UWA and Mitsubishi in a 2008 agreement, in which the company was a supporting corporate partner, and will provide additional resources for teaching and research.
Winthrop professor Phil Dolan, the dean of the UWA business school, acknowledged both agreements, saying the university valued the contribution of the companies.
“ATCO Australia’s investment in the UWA business school is making an important contribution to business education and public debate,” Mr Dolan said.
“In particular, the ATCO Australia undergraduate scholarship allows some of our brightest students to concentrate fully on their studies without having to worry about financial difficulties or external work commitments.”
Mr Dolan said Mitsubishi’s support would allow UWA’s Centre for Social Impact to continue to expand its research, teaching and community engagement activities in the area of social impact and investment.
ATCO Australia managing director Steven Landry said the partnership underscored the company’s long-term commitment to the WA community. “Our partnership with the UWA business school represents an opportunity for us to invest in programs and initiatives that develop a skilled and sustainable workforce through investments in continuous personal and professional learning,” Mr Landry said.
Mitsubishi Development managing director and chief executive officer Keisuke Hoshino said the agreement was an important way for the company to contribute to business education, research and social impact in the state.
Mitsubishi Development, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corp, has iron ore and uranium projects in WA, along with coal mining joint ventures in NSW and Queensland.
