KUCHING – Students sponsored by Yayasan Sarawak for a short program to improve their English at Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus recently expressed their gratitude and appreciation to the foundation.
The 21 students who started the three-month English Enhancement Program (EEP) in August this year recently met with an official from Yayasan Sarawak during an informal gathering at Swinburne Sarawak.
“I’m grateful for the sponsorship because my parents could not afford the fees,” said Debora Gelon, one of 21 students.
“My English has improved a lot since I started the program,” she said with confidence.
“The classes are fun and I also get the chance to interact and make new friends,” said Debora who recently took part in a fashion show and performed a cultural dance at an event on campus.
The 20-year-old Kenyah from Miri plans to take up a diploma in business at Swinburne Sarawak and will also consider pursuing a business degree after completing the EEP.
The second youngest of seven siblings, she said her “family is very supportive and proud” of her as she will be the first in the family to go to university.
Equally pleased to be in the program is Azlan Bin Abdullah, 21, from Kuching.
“I don’t think I would have taken up the program if Yayasan Sarawak had not sponsored me. So, I am really grateful,” said the son of a retired school principal.
“English is important because it allows us to gain more knowledge. Learning English at Swinburne (Sarawak) is also enjoyable because the lecturers make it interesting,” said Azlan who has a diploma in accounting and plans to pursue a degree in accounting.
The students recently met with Zamahari Haji Saidi, Principal Assistant Director of Yayasan Sarawak, at Swinburne Sarawak.
Zamahari explained that the EEP was put together by Yayasan Sarawak and Swinburne Sarawak specifically to assist bumiputera students who meet the requirements for the university’s programs but are not proficient in English and needs to improve their command of the language.
“We want to see you succeed in this program and progress to degree level,” said Zamahari, adding that the students could then apply for study loans from Yayasan Sarawak to further their studies.
“So far EEP students have done well and some are already pursuing their pre-university and undergraduate programs at the university,” he said.
He said Yayasan Sarawak make has an allocation for bumiputera students to pursue their studies at Swinburne Sarawak, and advised them to take up the opportunity to pursue tertiary studies.
Those accepted into the EEP must continue their studies at Swinburne Sarawak.
For students from outside Kuching, on-campus accommodation is provided at the university.
The EEP intake for next year is 28 March and 29 August. Those interested may obtain application forms from Yayasan Sarawak or Swinburne Sarawak.