by NURUL SUHAIDI / Source: MEDIA MULIA

MALAYAN Banking Bhd (Maybank) in collaboration with Asean Secretariat is offering young, talented and deserving Asean nationals, especially those from the lower income segment, with full scholarships to pursue their undergraduate education.

The recipient of Asean-Maybank Scholarship programme 2022 may choose to study in prestigious universities outside their own countries, but within the Asean region.

The scholarship will involve RM5 million for the initial intakes up to 2025, as part of Maybank’s continued commitment to invest in the future of Asean youth through education.

A total of three scholarships are being offered for the first intake this year, and will progressively be increased to 10 a year by 2025 and thereafter.

Maybank chairman Tan Sri Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa (picture), who is also Maybank Foundation chairman, said the scholarship is their commitment to invest in the future generation through education and help promote greater understanding among the people of Asean.

He added that the programme also aligns with Maybank’s mission to humanise financial services and supports one of the four headline sustainability commitments in their M25 Plan, which is improving the lives of one million households across Asean by 2025.

Eligible undergraduates will be placed in premier public universities in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines for this year’s intake, with the remaining Asean nations to be expanded gradually.

Courses are available in a three- or four-year degree such as finance, IT, psychology, economics, marketing, law, human resource management, banking, mathematics or future ready-related courses like programming, coding, creative design, statistics and science.

This scholarship will fully cover tuition fees for the duration of study, allowances for monthly stipends and housing, settling-in allowances, return economy class air travel, subsidised medical benefit (outpatient) and accident insurance coverage as well as laptop provisions.

Other necessities also included such as visas, medical check-ups, Covid-19 screening and quarantine costs.

Applicants must be citizens of one of the ten Asean member states, have exceptional academic qualifications, including a minimum CGPA of 3.00 or equivalent at the pre-university level and be involved in extracurricular activities to be eligible for the scholarship.

They must also have been accepted or offered admission to an Asean University Network member university to pursue undergraduate studies in any of the approved courses.

Zamzamzairani added that Maybank is hopeful the scholarship programme would encourage greater intra-Asean integration by boosting educational links between its member countries.

“It is designed to lay the foundation for a transformative crosscultural experience that will have a far-reaching effect on its beneficiaries. This is why we have a target to sponsor 25 deserving students from 10 Asean countries by the year 2025.

“We hope the recipients will go on to positively impact their communities by becoming change makers and leaders, and contributing to the region’s economic and social development,” he said.

Meanwhile, Asean’s Deputy Secretary General for Community and Corporate Affairs Tran Duc Binh said the scholarship programme demonstrates Asean’s commitment to working with various stakeholders to better prepare the youth for a brighter future by expanding educational and employment opportunities.

“The Asean Secretariat looks forward to the successful implementation of the scholarship so as to bring more opportunities to the youth, the leaders of our future,” he added.

Currently, the Asean University Network has 30 member universities from the 10 Asean member states, with its secretariat situated in Bangkok at Chulalongkorn University.

Among the member universities that are top ranked universities globally are the National University of Singapore, Universiti Malaya, University Indonesia, Chulalongkorm University and University of the Philippines.

Not only that, during their studies, scholarship recipients will also have the opportunity to conduct their internships either at the Asean Secretariat, Asean Foundation or Maybank offices regionally.

In addition, recipients will also have the opportunity to volunteer in Maybank Foundation programmes operated in collaboration with Asean Secretariat and Asean Foundation.

Recipients will serve a three-year bond with either Maybank, the Asean Secretariat or the Asean Foundation after graduation.

Online applications are currently open until April 16, 2022, and can be viewed on the Maybank and Asean Secretariat websites and social media platforms.

Interested applicants may also visit www.maybankfoundation.com for further information.