A group of delegates from the University of Western Australia has embarked on a trip to North America in order to raise funds for two projects and to forge links with prominent universities.
The group, which includes UWA vice-chancellor, Professor Alan Robson, UWA development officer Peter Leunig, Alinta chairman Tony Howarth and UWA Graduate School of Management director Mark Barnaba, will also be meeting UWA alumni working in the region.
According to Mr Robson, the visit will focus on raising the profile of UWA internationally by meeting with officials from Stanford University, Queens University in British Columbia, Canada, and Colgate University in New York.
Professor Robson said the fundraising activities would go towards the development of the university’s business school and the UWA Berndt Museum of Anthropology.
Mr Robson said Mr Howarth would be coordinating the fundraising, which would attempt to tap into networks established by UWA graduates working in North America.
Mr Robson said alumni wouldn’t be approached directly for donations, but rather approached to help establish an awareness of the university internationally.
“We’re all about generating friends at the moment. If people are enthusiastic about it [fundraising] that’s great, but winning support for the project is our main aim,” he said.
The museum currently holds about 11,000 objects, including artwork, around 35,000 historic and contemporary photographs, hundreds of sound and video recordings, a reference library comprising 4,000 volumes and an extensive archive relating to the history of the museum’s collections and collectors.
The overseas alumni visit follows the launch of the $22 million UWA Club complex in April, which includes facilities available for use by the university’s local graduates.