KUCHING – Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus has awarded scholarships worth more than RM420,000 to 148 of its high achieving students, recently.
The scholarship recipients, who comprised Malaysians and those from abroad, were awarded under the university’s Excellence, Leadership and Merit scholarship categories.
Excellence scholarships are awarded to students with good SPM/ O Level or equivalent results. A total of 78 students who recently joined the university’s foundation, diploma and degree programs were awarded this category of scholarship.
Students who scored high distinctions and high distinctions in their semester exams at Swinburne Sarawak are awarded the Merit scholarships. In this category 68 students pursuing a range of programs in foundation, diploma and degree were awarded.
Two students from Sri Lanka who excel in their studies and extra-curricular activities received the Leadership scholarship.
In his speech Professor Helmut Lueckenhausen, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, urged students to go beyond merely attending classes and doing only what is minimally required.
“A university student has initiative, is not a follower but a leader. A real university student takes control of his or her life, future or career”, he said.
He added that they will only get the best out of their university experience by taking control of and accepting the responsibility of being a university student and thrust themselves in the face of challenges in their studies.
“You are no longer in a period of life where people can just do things to you. You are now in a period of life where you are taking control. The things you do from now on must be driven by you”, Lueckenhausen advised the students.
He said the scholarship recipients have already shown through their academic results that they are in the upper reaches of their colleagues but “for those of you who are new to our community, make it a project to engage in a positive way with your own learning, your own growth, your own development.”
Touching on the importance of English, the Pro Vice-Chancellor said students have much to gain when they are conversant in the language, among them the chance of employment in any part of the world.
“Remember that you are a bit of an elite. You are here getting an award because you are very good or have been good at something or more than one thing. That gives me great comfort. As Pro Vice-Chancellor, to know that there are people like you out there capable of what you’ve achieved, as part of our university community, it gives me the greatest satisfaction because I cannot succeed in my job unless you succeed,” he said.
Among those present to witness the presentation of the scholarship awards were the families of the recipients, as well as school principals and representatives.
New students starting their programs at Swinburne Sarawak in its upcoming intakes may now apply for its scholarship schemes.