Penang Governor posing with UNITAR officials and students
By V. Sivaji
Penang Governor Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak took time off from his busy schedule to present scholarships to deserving B40 students to pursue their education at the UNITAR International University (UNITAR).
The commendable initiative was successfully launched with the encouragement and the support of the Governor himself.
The Penang State Government has introduced the B40 Education initiative to provide lifelong learning opportunities to Penangites.
The full scholarships are worth RM1 million and were made available for B40 Penangites to pursue tertiary education programmes.
Also present at the ceremony held at the official residence of the Governor in Seri Mutiara was UNITAR Vice Chancellor, Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Ir. Dr. Sahol Hamid Abu Bakar, Marc Kevin Natusch, Head, Corporate Communications and Business Planning, Muhammad Shahrir Aizat Muhamma Shuhaili (Senior executive, PR & Events Marketing) among others..
Selected students can pursue either Foundation or Diploma programmes who will continue their studies to a Bachelor’s Degree programme. The scholarship is an all-in-one offer that fully covers all fees for the entire duration of a student’s tenure at UNITAR and also their accommodation expenses.
Among the criteria to qualify for the scholarship was that the students are residents of Penang within the B40 category, SPM qualified students and meet the entry requirements of the Foundation/Diploma programmes.
According to Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Ir. Dr. Sahol Hamid, UNITAR since its inception in 1997, has promised to deliver high-quality education for all its students.
“This became the driving force behind their trust and confidence in us as a leading education provider. Today, thanks to the Penang State Government, UNITAR is privileged to offer 20 individuals from B40 households the opportunity to accelerate their future with us,” he said.
They presently have a student population of 8,000 across UNITAR’s Main Campus and Regional Centres in Malaysia.
“UNITAR graduates continue to be widely headhunted among top heavyweights in the booming workforce, all thanks to the quality and prestige of education that has been long provided by the institution.
UNITAR was established as the first virtual university in Southeast Asia and among the earliest private universities in the country. It is the first institution in Asia to be awarded a QS 5-Star Rating for the Online Learning category. In alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, UNITAR’s holistic and innovative learning ecosystem provides a comprehensive programme offering for all socio-economic levels whilst developing highly employable and entrepreneurial global citizens.
They offer over 40 homegrown programmes ranging from the Foundation, Diploma and Bachelor’s levels to the postgraduate Master’s and Doctorate.
Penang Governor taking time to get to know his guests