KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Four full scholarships for undergraduate study and two for postgraduate study worth RM60,000 each per annum will be offered to Malaysian students following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the prestigious HK Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Yayasan Pendidikan Bistari.

Malaysian students will also be given priority for certain scholarships open to international students.

Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, who is MCA president and patron of the newly-formed foundation, witnessed the signing of MoU.

Prof Judy Tsui, associate vice-president of PolyU, and Bruce Lim Aun Choong, co-ordinator of the foundation, signed the documents at KL Convention Centre yesterday.

Apart from awarding scholarships to undergraduate and postgraduate students, the collaboration is also aimed at promoting the advancement of international understanding, academic excellence and knowledge and cultural exchanges between Hong Kong and Malaysia.

The strategic partnership was one of the positive outcomes of a delegataion led by Ong and a team of government officials to the Faculty of Business at PolyU in June last year.

Ong said the partnership would open up opportunities for Malaysians overseas in terms of scholarships and internship opportunities.

"PolyU will be a great place for our Malaysian students to experience because it offers a distinctive perspective on how China is transforming as it engages with the emerging global system.

"Hong Kong, after all, is the window to greater China as well as a global financial centre.

"Not only will our students enjoy a learning experience, they will be able to tap into the strong business network and links PolyU has built over years, for internship and study attachments," said Ong.

On Yayasan Pendidikan Bistari, which is open to all Malaysian students, he said the foundation would ensure that only the most deserving students qualify for the programme.

Currently about 10 Malaysian students are pursuing various underdegrees with scholarships from PolyU.

Inquiries about the scholarships could be made at the PolyU booth at the The Star Education Fair at the KLCC.

The Star/Asia News Network