44 Malaysians receive Chevening scholarships for 2017/2018
The recipients will pursue their postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom for the 2017/2018 academic session.
Her Excellency Vicki Treadell and Dato' Hamidah Naziadin with a recipient of a Chevening scholarship
The Chevening award is UK government’s global scholarship programme offered by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. On top of the British government’s funding, corporate partners including BAE Systems, CIMB Group Holdings Berhad, the Prudence Foundation (community investment arm of Prudential), HSBC, Yayasan Khazanah and British universities are on board to provide additional funding in support of the Chevening programme.
Her Excellency Vicki Treadell CMG MVO, British High Commissioner to Malaysia, hosted a pre-departure briefing and reception for the scholars this afternoon.
She said:
Education continues to be a key priority leading the agenda between the UK and Malaysia as we celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations this year.
A British education has always been and will continue to be the top choice for Malaysian students seeking a world class education. As we continue to roll out our Education Is GREAT campaign in Malaysia, we have seen an increase in the number of Malaysians pursuing a British education. There are approximately 18,000 Malaysians studying in the UK and another 79,000 students currently studying for a UK qualification in Malaysia.
Malaysia’s growing appetite for higher education in the UK is reflected in the increase in Chevening Scholarships applications. We received a record of 830 applications for the 2017/18 year compared to 701 applications received in the previous year. Malaysia continues to receive one of the highest number of Chevening scholarships per capita in the world.
Successful scholars will be heading to the UK as early as September this year to pursue a wide range of Master’s programmes at top UK universities, with the aim of returning to Malaysia to make a significant contribution in one of these priority areas: public policy; human rights and law; media and education; economics; science and engineering. This year, we have seen the number of Chevening scholars studying humanities related subjects double compared to last year.
Scholar Norliana Khairuddin from Penang who will be pursuing a Master’s in Public Policy at University of Oxford said:
Chevening offers an opportunity to expand my experience and transverse fields in my career projection. I am hoping to gain a global network of potential allies in creating more inclusive public policies for Malaysia and the world.
Scholar Teh Tian Huey from Selangor who will be studying Computational Statistics and Machine Learning at the University College London said:
The Chevening Award gives me the opportunity to pursue some of the most defining, empowering and transformative technologies of our generation. The opportunity to live, learn and grow in a thriving global tech hub like London is the perfect way for me to transition into a career in tech.
Scholar Tashny Sukumaran from Perak who will be studying Human Rights Law at SOAS University of London said:
Chevening Scholarship will support me as I gain a better understanding of the legal aspects of my chosen field of work - migration and anti-trafficking - which will, in turn, allow me to contribute towards preventing Malaysia from being used as a trafficking transit zone.
The British High Commission is currently receiving applications for those wishing to study in the UK for the academic year of 2018/19.