Benefactor’s $ 1m gift to university
Canadian’s scholarships aim to create generation of Kiwi leaders
Canadian rich li ster John McCall MacBain i s gifting more than $ 1 million to Auckland University to fund a postgraduate scholarship programme.
This is the latest in the more than $ 275m of donations made by McCall MacBain’s foundation since 2007, which included an unprecedented $ 150m gift to Oxford University’s Rhodes Scholarships.
McCall MacBain was in Auckland this week to announce the donation at the university.
He told the Weekend Herald this was a unique opportunity to fund scholarships for New Zealand’s leading university, which he hoped would not just change the lives of the recipients but also others.
“At worst case you’ve changed somebody’s life for the better and in a few cases they may change the world for the better,” said McCall MacBain.
The donation will be used to create the new Kia Tuhura Scholarship Programme that will be offered to exceptional postgraduate students with a view to developing the next generation of Kiwi leaders.
Initially focusing on the sciences, up to 20 scholarships are set to be available from 2019, along with a leadership programme.
McCall MacBain was named the 75th richest person in Canada by the Canadian Business magazine this year, with a net worth of $ 1.37 billion according to the publication.
He made his fortune running Trader Classified Media, the world’s leading classified advertising company, which he sold in 2006 before setting up the McCall MacBain Foundation.
The foundation has funded scholarships and education, health and environmental projects.
“We really believe in public universities. [ Donating to the University of Auckland] really allows us to make sure we are actually helping the people who can make a difference in the world,’’ he said.
McCall MacBain’s link to philanthropy in education began at the receiving end of three university scholarships, including a Rhodes Scholarship at Oxford. Without these, McCall MacBain said he would not be where he is today.
McCall MacBain’s charitable efforts helped earn him the Order of Canada in 2016. He i s also the founding chair of the European Climate Foundation, a Second Century Founder and trustee of the Rhodes Trust, which funds and oversees Rhodes scholarships worldwide, and a chair of the Trudeau Foundation that helps fund and promote academic and public interest research.
The Kia Tuhura Scholarships aim to support and nurture talented students with the potential to make real change in the world.
Each scholar will be matched with a mentor, who will be drawn from a variety of fields.
In addition to significantly developing their leadership skills, the recipients will have their full tuition fees and accommodation paid for.
“These scholarships are an incredible opportunity for New Zealand’s top students to prepare for challenging careers and to speak out and lead in their communities,” said Auckland University vice- chancellor Professor Stuart McCutcheon.
The selection process will look for academic excellence as well as leadership capacity.
McCall MacBain has committed to funding the development costs for the leadership course and to personally supporting five scholarships for the first five years.