Bank to fund regional MBA scholarships
Bendigo Bank will fund two scholarships each year to support regional Victorian students undertaking a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the Bendigo campus of La Trobe University.
The scholarships will also seek to foster stronger communities, with applicants needing to show how their qualifications will help them improve their contribution to their community.
Applicants must have successfully completed a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration at La Trobe Bendigo. One place will be awarded to a Bendigo Bank staff member and applications will be sought from the community for the other place.
“This is one more plank in Bendigo Bank’s commitment to help build stronger regional communities,” managing director Rob Hunt said.
“The experience with our Community Banks shows that increasing the skills of business and community leaders produces better outcomes at a local level.
“We are very fortunate to have here in Bendigo an MBA program which equips managers with the skills to run leading businesses and we hope many of the graduates choose to do so in regional Victoria.
“Our other aim is to help La Trobe Bendigo to raise the profile of its business courses and make people aware of the level of study that can now be undertaken here in regional Victoria.
“Regional businesses are competing for skilled staff in an employment market where skills are in short supply and we must therefore be prepared to invest in growing skills within our own regions.
“Bendigo Bank would welcome the participation of other businesses in supporting this excellent business program run by La Trobe.”
Professor Geoffrey Durden, Head of School, Graduate School of Management, La Trobe University, said the university welcomed the bank’s sponsorship of the scholarships.
“Bendigo Bank and La Trobe University are both committed to improving skill levels within regional communities and the University is excited by the leadership in corporate sponsorship shown by the Bank. We expect other employers in Bendigo and Central Victoria will be inspired to follow the example set by Bendigo Bank.”
Professor Durden said that La Trobe’s confidence in the Bendigo region as the site for regional Victoria’s first full MBA has already paid off within student intakes at the Bendigo campus ahead of budget.
Applications for the Bendigo Bank MBA Scholarship are now open. Application forms are available by contacting the Graduate School of Management, La Trobe University on 9479-3100. Application forms will be available online from Friday 22 September by visiting www.latrobe.edu.au/gsm.
Each award is valued at $18,000 and continuation of the scholarship will be subject to review and satisfactory academic performance in each year of the course.
