Monash Memo - articles - 19 February 2002

A Monash student willtravel to the Monash Centre in Prato, Italy, on the first SardinianCultural Association (SCA) Scholarship later this year.

The annualscholarship will enable two Monash students to undertake study orresearch in Italy through the Monash Centre in Prato.

Honours studentMs Alison Close, from the Faculty of Arts, is currently exploring theexperiences of Sardinian migrant women now living in Melbourne.

MsClose, whose thesis investigates the impact of migration on Sardinianwomen, hopes that interviews with Sardinian and mainland Italian womenwill provide further insights for her research.

Along with a $1000scholarship, the SCA will provide Ms Close with a list of potentialinterview contacts and access to resource material.

SCA president MrPaul Lostia said the research would be a valuable contribution towardsthe Sardinian community, both in Melbourne and overseas.

"The researchrecognises the unique challenges facing Sardinians, particularly due tothe geographical location of the island," he said.

Coordinated by theResearch Graduate School with the assistance of Monash Abroad, thescholarship will allow Ms Close to travel to Sardinia as well as to theMonash Centre in Prato in central Tuscany which she plans to use as abase.

"As I am intending to specialise in immigration policy, thisscholarship will help me understand the human element of my proposedvocation - one that is arguably lacking in current immigrationpolicies," she said.

Scholarship applications are available from theMonash Research Graduate School at Clayton or Monash Abroad offices atthe Clayton or Caulfield campuses.

Eligible students are entitled toadditional funding from Monash Abroad.

SCA president Mr Paul Lostiawith Ms Alison Close at the association's headquarters in Rosanna.