KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia remains one of the top five non-European Union (EU) countries for sending students to the United Kingdom.
British High Commissioner to Malaysia Charles Hay said this development reflected a testament of the strong education link between the two countries, a key pillar in their longstanding relationship.
Hay said some 19,000 Malaysians pursued their higher studies in the UK last year, adding that the number will probably be lower this year due to Covid-19.
"With a track record of academic and research excellence, UK universities are highly sought after, and UK graduates are among the most employable in the world according to QS Graduate Employability Rankings," said Hay in his speech at the Chevening Scholarships award presentation ceremony to 38 Malaysians at his official residence here.
He said in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic, the British government and the education sector were working together to ensure the health and safety aspects of all Malaysian students, including Chevening scholars, in the country.
"You can expect to undertake your studies with a combination of online and in-person learning, get support for your well-being from your respective university and the Chevening Secretariat, as well as up-to-date guidance from Study UK," he said.
Hay also hoped to see the active involvement of Malaysian Chevening Scholars in the Chevening Alumni Malaysia Committee's activities to ensure the continuity of the alumni's strong and dynamic network across Malaysia.
Hay said the Chevening Secretariat received some 800 applications from Malaysians, where only 38 were selected to undertake studies in various fields for the 2020/21 academic year – including a Chevening Fellow who will undertake a short course at the prestigious Oxford Centre of Islamic Studies.
The recipients will pursue courses at top UK universities in a wide variety of fields including environment and climate change, human rights, and public policy, as well as arts and media.
Malaysia is the second-largest recipient of Chevening awards in Asean, and there are already over 17,000 Chevening alumni in Malaysia. – Bernama
