The Asian Institute is pleased to announce a new undergraduate research fund following a generous donation from University of Toronto alumna Daisy Ho. The Daisy Ho Contemporary China Special Undergraduate Projects Fund will provide financial support to third-year undergraduate students enrolled in any program in the Faculty of Arts and Science for the purpose of pursuing a special research project on contemporary China.

Each year, approximately four proposals will be selected for the award by a committee of representatives from the Faculty of Arts and Science, organized by the Asian Institute. The funding will contribute to travel and research costs associated with the accepted projects.

The Daisy Ho awards serve as an important stepping-stone in the development of a field of academic research studying contemporary China. Recipients will be required to share their findings with their peers upon completion of the project, in the interest of fostering a community of scholarship and exchange at the University of Toronto and expanding learning opportunities for other students.

Ms. Ho is the Deputy Managing Director of Shun Tak Holdings Ltd. and holds an MBA for the Rotman School of Management.  She has been a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board for more than a decade.  Her donation, a total of $2 million – $500,000 of which has been allocated to establish these awards at the Asian Institute – coincided with the Asia-Pacific launch of Boundless: The Campaign for the University of Toronto, which is upheld by two foundational axioms – Meeting Global Challenges and Preparing Global Citizens.

The Daisy Ho Contemporary China Special Undergraduate Projects Fund and its associated awards embody the principles put forth by the University of Toronto’s Boundless Campaign, which also reflect an important part of the Asian Institute’s mandate. These awards represent an exciting opportunity for driven, curious students to delve into research in the field of Contemporary Asian Studies. The Asian Institute will announce a call for applications in the 2014–15 academic year, with the first set of awards to be made in spring 2015.