Sarawak Foundation (Yayasan Sarawak) held a My University My Choice (MUMC) programme on March 16 at eight different locations throughout Sarawak.
According to the foundation, this programme, led by Zamahari Saidi from the Sarawak Foundation’s Scholarships, Programs, and Assistance Division, is an initiative aimed at providing a pathway for Sarawakian students to continue their education at public or private state-owned universities.
This programme involved 25 High Performing Rural Schools (HiPERS), including the newly appointed Sekolah Kebangsaan Cardinal Vaughan and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Song, Song, as well as 3,536 students who had recently completed their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examinations.
The opening ceremony took place at the Imperial Hotel in Kuching, with attendees joining via Google Meet from Sri Aman, Sibu, Mukah, Bintulu, Miri, Limbang, and Lawas.
Present to officiate at the event was Sarawak Foundation director Mersal Abang Rosli.
The foundation said the introduction of the MUMC programme has given students from rural schools a better chance of pursuing their studies at public or private state-owned universities.
“The foundation offers a number of scholarships, including the Bursary BP40 scheme, which covers up to 80 per cent of tuition fees at private state-owned universities for students from B40 and M40 families,” it said in a statement.
Students can also apply for scholarship loans to cover the remaining tuition fees.
“This has made it possible for students from low-income families to continue their education without worrying about paying for it,” the foundation said, adding that students with a minimum CGPA of 3.0 who excelled academically are also eligible for repayment incentives.
By providing proper consultation on tertiary education and education financial aids, the programme has encouraged more students to pursue their studies, and it has contributed to the improvement of education in Sarawak.
“This will eventually lead to a rise in the number of skilled professionals in Sarawak, benefiting the state’s economy. The Sarawak Foundation’s dedication to the state and its people’s development is demonstrated through the outreach programme,” the foundation said.
Representatives from state-owned private universities such as Swinburne University of Technology, Curtin University Malaysia, University of Technology Sarawak, Kolej Laila Taib, and Sarawak Skills were also present at each location to advise students on furthering their studies with Sarawak Foundation education financial aid.
