Australian High Commission
Malaysia
High Commission address: 6 Jalan Yap Kwan Seng, Kuala Lumpur - Telephone: 2146 5555 - Fax: 2141 5773

What Are The MACC Scholarships?

The MACC Scholarships, which provide Malaysian and Australian students the opportunity to experience diverse cultures and new lifestyle through sponsored education, is one of a number of education initiatives proposed under the collective banner of the Malaysia Australia Colombo Plan Commemoration (MACC) Initiative, in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the highly successful Colombo Plan.

Launched in October 2001, the MACC Scholarships build on the spirit of the Colombo Plan, which enabled some 4,000 young Malaysians to study in Australia from the early 1950s until the mid 1980s. The Colombo Plan was instrumental in building the strong people-to-people, business and education links which exist between Australia and Malaysia. Colombo Plan scholars include many now prominent Malaysians who have achieved successful and fulfilling careers in medicine, engineering, academia, law, nursing, architecture, commerce and government.

The MACC Scholarships take the Colombo Plan a step further by providing for a two-way exchange of scholars between Malaysia and Australia. The scholarships include full or partial waivers of tuition fees and are offered to Malaysian and Australian students to undertake their tertiary education at universities and institutions of higher learning in each other's countries.

The MACC Scholarship Program is spearheaded by The Malaysian Australian Alumni Council (The MAAC), a national organisation for Malaysian Alumni Associations of Australian Universities, with the support of The Malaysia-Australia Foundation (MAF), the Australian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, the Australian Department of Education, Science and Training, through AEI - The Australian Government International Education Network, and the Australia Malaysia Cultural Foundation (AMF). In October 2003, IDP Education Australia Limited in Malaysia joined the initiative as Program Administrator, handling the marketing, promotions and other administrative tasks for the Program.

What are the Objectives of the MACC Initiative?

Status of The MACC Scholarships

The MACC Scholarships Program will soon be moving into its fourth successive year of operations.

The inaugural 2001/2002 program saw a total of 56 scholarships amounting to an estimated RM2.80 million being offered at 23 participating institutions, where around RM1.14 million of the total pool was intended for Australian students to study at a choice of 11 participating institutions, comprising 28 undergraduate and 6 postgraduate scholarships, 29 of these being full scholarships and the remaining 5 being partial-fee waiver scholarships.

The balance RM1.66 million worth of scholarships comprising 16 undergraduate and 6 postgraduate scholarships, were made available to Malaysian applicants through 12 participating institutions.The subsequent 2003 program offered a total of 74 scholarships amounting to an estimated RM2.56 million, offered at 23 participating institutions.

Of the total pool, around RM932,000 was intended for Australian students at a choice of 11 participating institutions, where 45 scholarships were for undergraduate studies and 4 were for postgraduate studies.

The balance RM1.63 million worth of scholarships were earmarked for Malaysian students, made up of 17 undergraduate and 8 postgraduate scholarships.

The present 2004 program provides for 62 scholarships amounting to an estimated RM3.10 million, offered through 20 participating institutions. Of the 62 scholarships 46, amounting to around RM1.31 million, are available to Australian applicants, with 42 being undergraduate scholarships and 6 being for postgraduate studies, at 12 participating institutions.

The balance 16 scholarships, worth around RM1.79 million, were opened to Malaysian applicants, 10 of which were for undergraduate programs and 6 for postgraduate studies.

Details of MACC Scholarships currently on offer can be found at the website of The Malaysian Australian Alumni Council at www.eMAAC.org.

Scholarships Awarded

Since the launch the MACC Scholarships Program in October 2001, 42 MACC Scholarships amounting to almost RM3.00 million have been awarded.

Today, the MACC Scholarships Steering Committee - comprising members from the partners of the MACC Scholarships - honours the latest 17 recipients (in no particular order):

    1. Leanna Patterson, who has completed one semester of the Diploma in Business at HELP Institute, Malaysia under a MACC Scholarship

    2. Ler Lian Der, who is presently undertaking 2 years of the Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical) at The University of Adelaide under a MACC Scholarship

    3. Lian Wei, who has completed several units of a Bachelor of Engineering as part of Monash University Australia's Study Abroad Program under a MACC Scholarship

    4. Julie Huang, who has completed several units of a Bachelor of Business and Economics as part of Monash University Australia's Study Abroad Program under a MACC Scholarship

    5. Amanda Arthur, who has been awarded a MACC Scholarship to undertake a semester of the Bachelor of Business and Commerce at Monash University Malaysia

    6. Lee Chiou Horng, who is presently undertaking the 3-year Bachelor of Commerce at Flinders University of South Australia under a MACC Scholarship

    7. Lee Vean Kit, who is presently undertaking the 3-year Bachelor of Science (Environmental Science) at Flinders University of South Australia under a MACC Scholarship

    8. Lean Lee, who is presently undertaking the 2-year Master of Arts (International Development) at Flinders University of South Australia under a MACC Scholarship

    9. Holly J Nation, who has completed one semester of the Bachelor of Business/Social Science at Swinburne Sarawak Institute of Technology under a MACC Scholarship

    10. Andrew J Maguire, who has completed one semester of the Bachelor of Business at Swinburne Sarawak Institute of Technology under a MACC Scholarship

    11. Khemara Khun who has been awarded a MACC Scholarship to undertake the one semester of the Bachelor of Engineering (Robotics & Mechatronics) at Swinburne Sarawak Institute of Technology

    12. Enoch Peterson, who has been awarded a MACC Scholarship to undertake one semester of the Bachelor of Engineering (Robotics & Mechatronics) at Swinburne Sarawak Institute of Technology

    13. Che Shiau Yin, who has been awarded a MACC Scholarship to undertake her final year of the Bachelor of Business Studies (Accounting & IT) at University of Technology, Sydney

    14. Tan Woei King, who has been awarded a MACC Scholarship to undertake her final year of the Bachelor of Business Studies (Accounting & Finance) at University of Technology, Sydney

    15. Resminder Kaur, who has been awarded a MACC Scholarship to undertake the 3-year Bachelor of Commerce at Curtin University of Technology

    16. Cherrine Chan Yueh Ying, who has been awarded a MACC Scholarship to undertake the 3-year Bachelor of Biotechnology & Cell Biology at La Trobe University

    17. Nurashikeen Halibullah, who has been awarded a MACC Scholarship to undertake the 3-year Bachelor of Economics at The University of Queensland

What MACC Scholars Have Had To Say About The Program

"My stay here has been extraordinary - I've had so much fun, been able to study a lot better, been able to travel to places I've always wanted to go, seen and done things that most Australians wouldn't even believe. The hardest thing about my stay is knowing that I have to go home soon."

 - Darcy Wilson, MACC Scholar at Monash University Malaysia, May 2003

"MACC Scholarships - Uncover your potential, make your dream possible!"

 - Chin-Wei Liew, MACC Scholar at Curtin University of Technology, May 2003

"Wow what a time it has been … I have learnt so much about Malaysia and Asia. The whole experience has been fantastic - the culture, people, environment and lifestyle. I'm very excited about going home and telling family and friends about my experiences and what I have learnt. Studying in a different culture has allowed me to learn so much and has proven to be a priceless experience."

 - Andrew J Maguire, MACC Scholar at Swinburne Sarawak Institute of Technology, December 2003

For More Information

Enquiries and applications for the MACC Scholarships Program are welcomed. Kindly visit www.eMAAC.org or contact either of the following parties:The Malaysian Australian Alumni Council
Email: MACC@eMAAC.org

IDP Education Australia
Malaysia Head Office
6th Floor, West Block, Wisma Selangor Dredging
Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: (603) 2162 3755 Email: info@kualalumpur.idp.com

MACC Partners

           

Programme Administrator

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