31 Malaysian Chevening Scholars Return From Transformative Experience In UK

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 16 (Bernama) -- Thirty-one Malaysians have returned home after completing their post-graduate studies in the United Kingdom (UK) under the Chevening Awards Programme.

The 2024/25 cohort of scholars gathered at a reception on Feb 12 hosted by the British Deputy High Commissioner to Malaysia, David Wallace.

"The UK is proud of its world-class universities, a deep tradition of academic and research excellence.

"I am pleased to see top Malaysian scholars choosing UK education, and returning to Malaysia with new skills, knowledge, and global networks that will enable them to make meaningful contributions in Malaysia," Wallace said in a statement on Monday (Feb 16).

The returning scholars have graduated from disciplines such as governance, development and public policy, legal and constitutional studies, autism studies, and sustainable resources, among many others.

They are grateful for the Chevening experience, as it has helped transform and enrich their individual lives. 

"Experiencing the UK's inclusive infrastructure was a lightbulb moment. Seamless wheelchair access on buses and walkable cities that live up to the framework of Availability, Accessibility, Acceptability, and Quality (AAAQ), said Scholar Dr Ardif Damiri, who graduated in Global Health Policy from the University of Edinburgh.

"Abundant, accessible green spaces showed me that mobility and nature are rights, not privileges, proving that urban design is a moral choice.

"This shifted my perspective and shaped my growth in advocacy and empathy. It taught me that achieving societal success means integrating and valuing our underserved populations, ensuring no one is left behind."

The Chevening Award is the UK government's global scholarship programme funded and administered by the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

The programme is complemented by generous sponsorships by Malaysian corporate partners, including Yayasan Khazanah, CIMB Foundation, the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation, and Petronas, along with funding from British universities. In Malaysia, the programme started in 1983.

Malaysia is currently the second-largest recipient of Chevening awards in ASEAN. The 31 returning scholars are now part of the 2,000-strong Chevening Alumni in this country. 

-- BERNAMA