YAYASAN Sime Darby (Sime Darby Foundation) and China Scholarship Council will offer scholarships worth more than 15 million yuan (RM7.8mil) to 14 outstanding students from Malaysia and China.

The education scholarship and student exchange programme will commence this year with 10 scholarships awarded to Malaysians who will undergo a one-year undergraduate foundation course, followed by a four-year degree programme at top Chinese universities such as Peking University, Tsinghua University, Fudan University and Zhejiang University.

Another four scholarships will be offered to Chinese citizens to pursue undergraduate studies at top universities abroad and also in Malaysia.

Exchanging documents: (from left) Yatela, Musa and Dr Liu after the signing ceremony

The foundation’s chairman Tun Musa Hitam said the extension of the scholarship to China for the first time, was a satisfying endeavour.

“I believe it is in the interest of further improving the relations between Malaysia and China that we have to focus on youth development and cultural exchange,” he said at the signing of the programme’s memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Beijing recently.

The foundation’s chief executive officer Yatela Zainal Abidin and the council’s secretary-general Dr Liu Jinghui signed the MoU.

Musa said there were currently more students from China pursuing their studies in Malaysia than Malaysian students studying in China.

The foundation hoped that its initiative would encourage more people to choose China as their study destination.

“We should send more of our students to China. To me, China has a lot to offer and they have courses in various fields which they can choose from,” he said.

The scholarship value for a Malaysian student in China is approximately 120,000 yuan (RM62,827) per year, while a Chinese citizen will be given 300,000 yuan (RM157,068) a year for his overseas studies.

The scholarship covers tuition fees, medical checkup and living expenses, books, laptop, shipping and clothing allowances.

The foundation has set aside more than 40 million yuan (RM20.94mil) for the programme.

Students pursuing business management, economics, finance, accountancy and mechanical and civil engineering courses will be given priority.

Upon completion of their studies, the recipients will be able to work for either Sime Darby Bhd or its subsidiaries.

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