The University of Wollongong has been given $1.3 million from former Vice-Chancellor Ken McKinnon and his wife Suzanne Walker.
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The money will go to set up the McKinnon-Walker Trust, which is designed to generate income for the university to disburse towards “innovation and excellence”.
The income from the investment will be distributed each year at the university Vice-Chancellor’s discretion, and can be put towards academic staff, professional staff and students.
The idea is that the income be used to “foster a culture of innovation” – to “support the green sprouts of new ideas” including innovative programs and activities.
“The core goal is to foster widespread commitment to innovation and be a particular avenue of support for excellence,” Professor McKinnon said. “The spur comes from the experience Suzanne and I have gained through more than 40 years in several government and academic consultative roles, of the desirability to have funds, in addition to normal carefully budgeted institutional funds, with which the Vice-Chancellor can bring life to ideas likely to improve the University.”
Emeritus Professor McKinnon was UoW’s second Vice-Chancellor, occupying the position from 1981 to 1995. He took on with enthusiasm UOW’s rapid development from a college serving the local steel industry, to a modern university with a wide range of study disciplines.
The McKinnon Building on campus bears his name.
