Language studies boosted by anonymous donation

A single anonymous donor has showed their support for the humanities by donating $1 million to enhance language studies at The Australian National University (ANU).

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ian Young AO, announced the donation at an annual event thanking ANU donors. The donation has established three new endowments including $200,000 each for Portuguese language studies and Russian language studies and $100,000 for Indigenous Australian language studies.

The donor has pledged to bring the total donation to a sum of $1 million, and the ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences have agreed to invest $100,000 bringing the overall donation to $1.1 million.

These endowments will provide financial assistance to students studying languages, support teaching and research by academics in the humanities and social sciences and provide funds for additional casual teaching and academic staff.

“The teaching of languages is so important and as Australia’s national university we have a responsibility to uphold areas of national significance,” says Professor Young.

“This anonymous donation will help us do that, and I thank the donor on behalf of the entire University community for this gift and the impact it will have.”

Professor the Honourable Gareth Evans AC QC, ANU Chancellor, highlighted the philanthropic culture developing at ANU.

“This year has been a watershed year for philanthropy at ANU,” he said.

“This year alone, the ANU Endowment for Excellence has received 1,800 gifts from 1,048 donors and a total exceeding $11 million in funds raised. The trajectory of donations is up and a strong and promising culture of philanthropy at ANU is emerging.”