Scholarships
Douglas MacLennan Fashion Design Scholarship
The Douglas MacLennan Fashion Design Scholarship was established in 2019 by the founders of Design for Sustainable Development Foundation (DFSD) to nurture new talent in Sri Lankan Fashion Design, encourage the next generation of designers, and to promote fashion design innovation and excellence.
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Eligibility
The scholarship is open to Level 5 and Level 6 students who are studying in Fashion and Textile Design or Fashion Design and Marketing programmes at AOD. Individuals will be nominated for the scholarship. Scholarship funding, the amount of which will be determined annually, can be used flexibly including for study, travel and/or workshops.
The Douglas MacLennan Scholarship students must be:
- Enrolled on a full-time BA course of study at AOD, ( Applicable programmes, Fashion and Textile Design, or Fashion Design and Marketing)
- Completed the First year of study successfully on the BA programme at AOD
Over the past thirty-eight years he has externally examined at over 35 centres of Higher Education in the UK, Spain, India, Singapore and Greece and in his international development role he acquired a breadth of understanding in relation to international design undergraduate curriculums.
The Douglas MacLennan Fashion Design Scholarship was established in 2019 by the founders of Design for Sustainable Development Foundation (DFSD) to nurture new talent in Sri Lankan Fashion Design, encourage the next generation of designers, and to promote fashion design innovation and excellence.
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Eligibility
The scholarship is open to Level 5 and Level 6 students who are studying in Fashion and Textile Design or Fashion Design and Marketing programmes at AOD. Individuals will be nominated for the scholarship. Scholarship funding, the amount of which will be determined annually, can be used flexibly including for study, travel and/or workshops.
The Douglas MacLennan Scholarship students must be:
- Enrolled on a full-time BA course of study at AOD, ( Applicable programmes, Fashion and Textile Design, or Fashion Design and Marketing)
- Completed the First year of study successfully on the BA programme at AOD
The scholarship will be assessed on the basis of financial need and academic merit, and will be awarded to those who have the ability and potential to make an exceptional contribution to both their chosen field and to the community.
Successful applicants, where applicable will be asked to report on the outcomes achieved from the scholarship and to submit a sample of work undertaken as a result of the scholarship. Information on scholarship holders may be publicized, including on the DFSD website www.dfsdsrilanka.org
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Applications will be by nomination only
Course leaders will send their nominations for the scholarship and nominees will submit a reflection paper for the scholarship. The selection committee appointed by DFSD will award the scholarship to the most suitable nominee. The name of the winning nominee will be announced at Reveal - AOD graduation Exhibition.
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Background
Douglas MacLennan, after whom the scholarship is named has worked in the world of fashion and fashion education for forty-nine years, the first three years, exclusively in Hong Kong in the world of fashion knitwear, working sequentially for two worldwide exporters of fashion knitwear for globally diverse fashion market levels. He started his teaching career in 1972 at his old alma mater St. Martin’s, moving quickly on to his lengthy teaching base at Northumbria University, where he nurtured future fashion design talent for almost forty-four years until June 2016. In that time he has witnessed graduates progress to household company names such as Nike, Adidas, Gap, Ralph Lauren/Polo, Louis Vuitton, Cynthia Steffe, Selfridges, Abercrombie & Fitch, Bally, Escada, Calvin Klein, Daks, Aquascutum, River Island, Top Shop, K-Boxing, to name but a few, all becoming successful designers in their own right. Over the past thirty-eight years he has externally examined at over 35 centres of Higher Education in the UK, Spain, India, Singapore and Greece and in his international development role he acquired a breadth of understanding in relation to international design undergraduate curriculums.
Since stepping down from full time work in 2016 his expertise has been sought in Singapore, China, India, Malaysia, Vietnam and Sri Lanka alongside work as Acting Chair and Academic Trustee for the re-named charity Graduate Fashion Foundation (previously known as Graduate Fashion Week) and has assisted in the setting up of the Scottish based charity ‘ADA’ to bring with time, global digital enlightenment for all.
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The scholarship was established by a request provided by AOD.
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To learn more about the scholarship fund or the Design for Sustainable Development Foundation see www.dfsdsrilanka.org, www.aod.lk or email info@aod.lk
Shilanthi Abayagunawardana Textile Design Scholarship
The Shilanthi Abayagunawardana Textile Design Scholarship was established in 2019 by the founders of Design for Sustainable Development Foundation (DFSD) to nurture new talent in Sri Lankan textile design,encourage the next generation of designers, and to promote textile design innovation and excellence.
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Eligibility
Eligibility
The scholarship is open to AOD 2nd Year & 3rd Year Undergraduate students, who are studying or interested in a textile-related field. Individuals or groups will be nominated for the scholarship. Scholarship funding, the amount of which will be determined annually, can be used flexibly including for study, travel and/or workshops.
The Shilanthi Abayagunawardana Scholarship students must be:
- Enrolled on a full-time BA course at AOD
- Successfully Completed First year of study in the BA programme at AOD
A selection committee appointed by DFSD will award the scholarship annually. Preference will be given to nominations that align with the DFSD objectives including:
- Contributing to textile design innovation and excellence
- Encouraging the next generation of designers and artisans to hone their skills
- Advancing Sri Lankan textile traditions and/or promoting Sri Lanka’s textile heritage
- Encouraging sustainable practices in the production of Sri Lankan textiles
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Applications will be by nomination only
Course leaders will send their nominations for the scholarship and nominees will submit a reflection paper for the scholarship. The selection committee appointed by DFSD will award the scholarship to the most suitable nominee. The name of the winning nominee will be announced at AOD graduation.
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Background
Shilanthi Abayagunawardana, after whom the scholarship is named, is an exceptionally talented and prolific Sri Lankan textile designer. Shilanthi has devoted her career to promoting Sri Lankan heritage textiles and pushing design frontiers. A hallmark of her work is her practical and collaborative approach which sees her spending countless hours in rural artisan communities working alongside artisans to develop exquisite and unique designs. Currently a senior lecturer in textile design at Sri Lanka’s premier design institute AOD, Shilanthi has been instrumental in ensuring a new generation of young Sri Lankan textile designers are conversant with Sri Lanka’s textile traditions and have hands-on experience working collaboratively with artisans. Her generosity and patience in mentoring students, encouraging new talent, collaborating with peers, supporting rural artisans, advocating for Sri Lanka heritage and introducing newcomers to Sri Lankan textile traditions are exemplary.
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The scholarship was established by a bequest provided by the founders of DFSD Linda and Rohan Speldewinde.
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To learn more about the scholarship fund or the Design for Sustainable Development Foundation see www.dfsdsrilanka.org/textile-design-scholarship , https://www.aod.lk or email info@aod.lk.
To learn more about the scholarship fund or the Design for Sustainable Development Foundation see www.dfsdsrilanka.org/