DesignInc is excited to be financing the first donor-funded scholarship for Architecture at Western Sydney University. Valued at $30,000 p.a. over five years, the scholarship will be offered to an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student enrolled in Architecture from Semester 1 2020. It is the second scholarship of this magnitude across Australia for an Indigenous student.

Workplace initiatives in gender equality, mentoring and celebrating cultural diversity are some of the core values for our business. In an attempt to recruit an Indigenous team member, DesignInc became aware of the very wide gap in Aboriginal and Torres Strait participation at tertiary level and in the architecture discipline in particular is a major issue for the industry and our community.

“When we thought of starting a scholarship programme in architecture as a gesture of ‘giving back’ to society, it was only apt that we supported an indigenous student for this”, says Sandeep Amin, Managing Director and Nominated Architect for the Sydney studio of DesignInc.

The directors were motivated to work with Western Sydney University as a leader in diversity and social inclusion, demonstrated by commitment to equality, inclusiveness, education and outreach programs providing opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

Launched this year, Western Sydney University’s Bachelor of Architectural Design/Master of Architecture (Urban Transformation) program centres on urban transformation of contemporary cities, preparing architects for global employment alongside technological and intellectual skills to create sustainable, resilient, and well-designed environments. The region’s newest and most innovative architecture program will engage and investigate real projects in local places through an inclusive, collaborative and cross disciplinary practice based at Parramatta.

Applications are now open for the scholarship.