STUDENTS at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) stand to benefit from a scholarship programme, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the university and the Malaysian Social Entrepreneurs Foundation (MSEF).
Named Siyuan Scholarship, the programme is extended to students from six local non-government higher education institutions, namely, UTAR, Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (TAR UC), Southern University College (Southern UC), New Era University College (NEUC), Han Chiang University College of Communication, and Oneworld Hanxin College.
With an allocation of at least RM2.5mil per year, the scholarship encompasses three major areas of concern: education support, charity incubation and poverty alleviation, according to a UTAR press release dated Dec 14.
Beneficiary students are required to join the Malaysian Centre of Innovation in Voluntary Action to foster the virtue of gratitude by serving the community.
Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony, UTAR president Prof Dr Ewe Hong Tat expressed his appreciation to MSEF for donating a sum of RM500,000 to the MSEF-UTAR Scholarship Fund.
This fund will certainly provide scholarships to needy and deserving students to pursue their studies in UTAR’s undergraduate programmes, he said.“I am happy that MSEF and UTAR share the vision and goal in ensuring that the opportunity to have quality education is given to all deserving students regardless of their backgrounds.
“This is also in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal No. 4, which is to ensure quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all,” he added.
At the event, MSEF executive director Aki Chong explained that the name “Siyuan” was derived from a Chinese idiom which means “when drinking water, one should not forget its source”.
MSEF deputy president Datuk Chan Wah Kiang said Siyuan Scholarship is intended to enable students to complete their diploma and bachelor’s degrees.
He added that through the collaboration with charities, it is hoped that the beneficiaries learn the virtue of gratitude and give back to the community when they set foot in society in the future.
Also present at the event were MSEF president Datuk Seri Lee Kar Whatt, vice president Tan Sri Datuk Nelson Tan Jyh Yaong, independent director Emeritus Prof Datuk Dr Tan Chong Tin, UTAR Student Development and Alumni Relations vice president Prof Dr Choong Chee Keong, TAR UC president Prof Dr Lee Sze Wei, Southern UC board of directors chairman Datuk Vincent Tan Meng Seng, and NEUC vice-chancellor Dr Mok Soon Chong.
Established in 2021, MSEF’s mission is to promote the simultaneous growth and development of Malaysia’s corporate culture and public welfare and charity culture, and at the same time help entrepreneur groups fulfil their social responsibilities in the development of public welfare undertakings.
