UK reaffirms commitment to nurturing future Malaysian leaders through Chevening Scholarship programme

KUALA LUMPUR - The United Kingdom (UK) has reaffirmed its commitment in nurturing the upcoming generation of Malaysian leaders who are poised to contribute significantly to the nation's promising future through the Chevening Scholarship programme.

British High Commissioner to Malaysia Ailsa Terry said the initiative, facilitated through the prestigious scholarship programme, seeks to identify and support Malaysia's brightest talents, offering them not only access to world-class education but also an extraordinary 360-degree experience of life in the UK throughout their Chevening year.

"The UK wants to invest in the next generation of Malaysian leaders who will return to the country and contribute to Malaysia’s bright future,” she said in her speech when hosting a pre-departure briefing and reception for the Chevening scholars here, Friday.

A total of 35 Malaysians have been awarded the prestigious Chevening scholarship for the 2023/24 academic year in the UK. This includes one individual who received a Chevening Fellowship for a short course at the Oxford Centre of Islamic Studies.

Terry highlighted the deep-rooted educational relationship between Malaysia and the UK, highlighting that the number of scholars pursuing further studies under Chevening from Malaysia surpasses any other country in the Asean region.

Malaysia ranks as the second largest recipient of Chevening awards in Asean, boasting a Chevening alumni network of over 1,800 in the country.

Meanwhile, Chevening scholar Melvinderjit Singh, who will be pursuing a course in Digital Health and Entrepreneurship at University College London, emphasised that the scholarship provides a platform to engage with future leaders and exchange ideas on addressing global challenges.

Another scholar, Dr Mohd Khairul Ikhwan Mohd Nizam from Melaka, is enrolled in Brighton and Sussex Medical School to study Healthcare Leadership and Commissioning and aims to grasp how bolstering health policy entails establishing a financially sustainable ecosystem through robust health insurance mechanisms.

Grace Pounsin from Sabah, embarking on her Conservation and International Wildlife Trade course at the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (Dice) under the University of Kent, expressed enthusiasm about contributing to conservation-focused volunteer projects that align with her career aspirations.

Marking its 40th anniversary this year, the Chevening award is the UK Government's global scholarship programme funded and administered by the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

This is complemented by generous sponsorships from Malaysian corporate partners - namely CIMB Foundation, Yayasan Khazanah and the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation. British universities are also providing additional funding in support of the Chevening programme.

The 2024/25 Chevening application cycle will open in September. Malaysians aspiring to secure a scholarship for post-graduate studies in the UK are encouraged to apply when applications open in September 2023. For further information, visit www.chevening.org/malaysia. - BERNAMA