KUALA LUMPUR: A new scholarship has been launched to enable more Malaysian students to spend a semester or two in Australia.
Known as the Australia Awards - Malaysia Semester Programme (AA-MSP), the pilot initiative will provide financial support for Malaysian students studying at an Australian transnational education institution in Malaysia to study in Australia.
The programme is designed to assist students who may otherwise face financial constraints to undertake study in Australia.
Australia’s Assistant Minister for International Education Julian Hill said the programme is meant to give students who might not have the financial means an opportunity to experience studying in Australia.
"We hope they will carry a little bit of Australia for the rest of their lives and become a 'human bridge' between the two countries," he said during the launch of the programme at the official residence of the Australian High Commissioner today (Aug 4).
During the launch, Australian High Commissioner Danielle Heinecke said they believed financial circumstances should not be a barrier to education.
"Education is really our most important asset," she said, adding that they hoped to increase the number of Malaysians who go to Australia to study.
AA-MSP involves a merit-based selection process, carried out by the respective universities, that encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply, including with regard to gender, accessibility needs, cultural and linguistic groups and those who live in rural or lower socioeconomic areas.
It also supports the empowerment of women as well as the inclusion of people with disability; those from ethnic minorities; and individuals from disadvantaged social groups.
The AA-MSP commenced in July and provides an opportunity for more Malaysian students to experience Australia’s world-class education sector in a globally competitive marketplace.
It covers students’ international travel, accommodation and living expenses; university administration, coordination and support costs; and English language testing, visas, overseas student health cover and related insurance.
As part of the prestigious Australia Awards initiative, the AA-MSP is currently open to students from Curtin University Malaysia, Monash University Malaysia and University of Wollongong Malaysia.
Interested students can find out more through their respective universities.
