The David Philp Scholarship
History and purpose
This scholarship was established in memory of David Philp who passed away suddenly in 2021. As a Senior Manager in government for over 30 years, David was extremely passionate about public service and was recognised with various awards and accolades during his distinguished career. David was responsible for several significant achievements regarding identity management, including introducing electronic passports, online passport applications and providing international leadership around passports and identity. He is remembered by many as a friend, colleague, mentor, a strategist and innovator, and an all-round brilliant person.
The purpose of this scholarship is to continue David’s legacy and support students undertaking research aligned with his career as a leader in the field of identity management. David’s perspectives with regard to identity management were broad including driving development around effective and inclusive identity policy (both nationally and internationally), leading technology innovation (including modernisation of core identity systems and use of biometric technologies) and advocating and improving the customer experience of key identity and life events for all New Zealanders’. In the span of David’s career, he led the transition from a paper-based world to a digital world in a number of core identity services.
One of David’s passions was to ensure New Zealanders trusted and received the benefits of new technology, which has advanced rapidly in recent years. The move to digital world is a significant and an ongoing transition, and David was always looking for new ways to enable people to access services in a convenient, secure and equitable way. You can read more about David’s significant legacy and impact here.
Who is eligible?
- Applicants must be undertaking study in areas related to identity management. This is a broad field of enquiry and as such, there is a broad range of perspectives that can be taken to research. This includes, but is not limited to information and communication technology, artificial intelligence, public services, human/social impacts, data privacy/integrity/security and international/global (i.e., NZ’s place in broader global context).
- Research that seeks to better understand the impacts and experiences of New Zealand citizens and residents resulting from their interactions with identity services/systems should be central to the research. Research should help inform how we better design future policies and identity services/systems to better meet the needs of New Zealanders.
- Applicants must be enrolled, or intending to enrol full time a Master’s or PhD degree at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
- Applicants must be either New Zealand Citizens or Permanent Residents.
Selection criteria
The scholarship will be awarded to a student undertaking or intending to undertake their Master’s or PhD within an area of study related to relating to topics outlined in the above eligibility section. Research that has a specific New Zealand focus is desirable.
Application process
A completed online application must be submitted by 4.30 pm on the closing date. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. Any required supporting documentation (including references) must also be received by 4.30 pm on the closing date in order for the application to be considered.
Applications will normally open one month prior to the closing date. If no application link is provided below, check back again closer to the closing date. Contact us if you have any queries.
Scholarship specific documentation
- A personal statement outlining the current or intended area of study or research and how this relates to the purpose and eligibility of the scholarship
- Academic transcript
- One academic reference (to be requested via the online application)
Selection process
Candidates will be shortlisted by the University Research Scholarships Committee. The scholarship donor will decide final recipient.
Additional information
The successful recipient must write a letter of thanks to the donor organisation, including details of their intended area/topic of research or study.
The Scholarship will be paid as a stipend in instalments.
Regulations and conditions
- A completed online application must be submitted by 4.30 pm on the closing date. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. Any required supporting documentation (including references) must also be received by 4:30pm on the closing date in order for the application to be considered.
- All offers of the Scholarship will be conditional upon the recipient being enrolled in a full-year programme (as stipulated by Studylink as full-time), within the criteria and tenure of the scholarship. No payment of the Scholarship will be made until this condition is met.
- Where part-time study for the recipient is approved, their scholarship award may be pro-rated. This decision will be made by the decision-making panel. Before the recipient decides to reduce their workload from full-time study, this must be discussed with the Scholarships Office.
- The Scholarship cannot be deferred to a later year.
- The Scholarship may be held in conjunction with other University awards.
- If the scholarship is awarded to a PhD student, at the discretion of the University Research Scholarships Committee, the $20,000 stipend may be paid out across one or two years.
- Should the recipient withdraw from Victoria University of Wellington during the tenure of this scholarship or fail to achieve a satisfactory progress, partial repayment of the Scholarship will normally be expected. Recipients must advise the Scholarships Office if they intend to withdraw.
- Recipients are expected to act as Ambassadors for Victoria University of Wellington and participate in appropriate events or marketing if requested.
- At the discretion of the Deciding Authority, the application of the terms and conditions of the Scholarship may be modified in special circumstances or to avoid hardship to any candidate for the Scholarship.
- A copy of the completed work of research will be submitted to the donor organisation upon completion of the programme of study (a digital format is acceptable).
Contact
Scholarships Office
scholarships-office@vuw.ac.nz
Phone 0800 04 04 04