The Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) at UNSW Australia has unveiled a new full scholarship for veterans or current serving members of the Australian Defence Force who wish to complete a full-time MBA program.
The AGSM MBA Military scholarship is valued at almost $80,000 and created in recognition of the late Special Forces soldier and AGSM full-time student Matt Kappler.
It is specifically designed to harness the reputation and teaching credentials of the AGSM to support successful transition from military to civilian life.
The scholarship – one of the first post-graduate management program scholarships of its kind – is available to personnel from the Navy, Army or Air Force regardless of rank, providing they have served continuously for a minimum of five years.
Importantly, it has been designed to capitalise on the essential military philosophy that a team is greater than the sum of its parts. In this way, in addition to learning alongside a team of international candidates, the scholarship holder will be mentored by AGSM MBA graduates who have established themselves as leaders in their chosen field after starting their career in the Australian Defence Force.
On graduation participants will also join more than 16,000 alumni who are building and leading iconic global brands around the world.
Matt Kappler’s former colleague and close friend Former Australian Army Soldier Phil Hayes-St Clair has been instrumental in the development of this scholarship.
“I introduced Matt to AGSM in the knowledge that a great many military leaders had passed through the MBA program before him,” Hayes-St Clair said.
“On the unforgettable morning in 2015 that I delivered the news of Matt’s passing to his classmates, Professor Julie Cogin, AGSM’s Director and Deputy Dean, asked what the University could do to remember Matt.
“This scholarship is the silver-lining from that dark day in June. It’s also a model for other Australian universities, not already engaged with veterans and the military, to consider pursuing.”
Professor Cogin said the AGSM has had the privilege of educating many members of the armed services over the last 40 years.
“The individuals I have encountered are extraordinary and, because of their focused training and leadership philosophy add enormously to the rich tapestry of each cohort they join.”
“I’m delighted that we are able to offer a scholarship to target this very special group of people. We very much hope it can offer an attractive and meaningful career alternative for those people looking for a strong community to transition to following the completion of their service,” she said.
The AGSM Military scholarship complements a suite of scholarships now available for AGSM programs including the recently launched Luminis scholarship which offers MBA candidates the opportunity to expand their international experience and complete some of their program at AGSM partner institution, Wharton.
