Coffee Cocoa Gunpowder (Cocogun) has announced a new scholarship for Indigenous students to study creative-based degrees at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS).
The Cocogun Creative Scholarship for Indigenous Students will provide funding for talented Indigenous students with outstanding potential to build the foundations of a creative industries career.
The scholarship commences in 2022 and will support students in studying of one of the following degrees:
- Bachelor of Communication and Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation
- Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication) and Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation
- Bachelor of Communication
- Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication)
The agency has worked closely with UTS to design the scholarship in a way that the degree’s program, selection process and funding breakdown ensure maximum positive impact.
Cocogun will also be looking to support graduates as they enter the industry to ensure the recipients benefit from the scholarship and that it, in turn, offers value to the talent pipeline.
Despite being the oldest storytelling culture on the planet, Indigenous people are still underrepresented in the creative industries.
Many Indigenous youth don’t ‘see’ themselves at university, or might not have a family history of attending university, or don’t see it as a stepping stone to opportunity.
“Scholarships like this provide more than just financial support – they give Indigenous students the confidence to dream big,” said director of Indigenous Students and Community Engagement, UTS Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research, Maree Graham.
“Knowing that there is someone who believes in them and is invested in their success can make all the difference.”
“At UTS our vision is to create a place where all Indigenous Australians can access education and be supported to succeed, and we are so excited that Cocogun shares in this passion.
“The impact of Cocogun’s generous philanthropic commitment will be felt for years to come, as scholarship recipients will go on to make their mark in the creative industries.”
Cocogun managing director Chiquita King said her company saw an opportunity to open up pathways for Indigenous creative talent through the businesses’ own “ongoing discovery and Indigenous cultural training journey.”
“We would all benefit as a result, so we’re doing something about it,” she said.
“We’re proud to be working closely with UTS on this. Long may it continue, and we look forward to the difference it will make to all of us.”
The inaugural Cocogun Creative Scholarship for Indigenous Students will be awarded in the Autumn semester of 2022.
