Social capital in Tampines Central enhanced with scholarship scheme

The Tampines Central Citizens’ Consultative Committee (TCCCC), North East Community Development Council (NECDC), SMa Institute of Higher Learning and Murdoch University launched the Tampines Central Community Scholarship Scheme to develop Tampines Central residents holistically while providing them with opportunities and support to contribute back to the community.

 

Launching the Scholarship Scheme at Tampines Central Community Club are (L-R): Professor Richard Higgott, Vice Chancellor of Murdoch University, Mr George Huang, PBM, Chairman of the SMa Institute of Higher Learningand President of SMa, Mr Gerald Lim, PBM, Chairman of TCCCC and Mr Steven Neo, Chairman, Children and Youth Committee, North East Community Development Council.

 

This scholarship scheme will support three students from Tampines Central annually, for three years, to pursue the three-year Murdoch University undergraduate degrees offered by the SMa Institute of Higher Learning. Recipients will choose a discipline of their choice from a variety of programmes offered. Valued at S$350,000, this scheme is the first partnership between Murdoch University and community-based organisations in Singapore.

The SMa Institute of Higher Learning will also sponsor recipients who may not meet some of the minimum requirement for an undergraduate degree to attend a one-year academic bridging programme.

Mr George Huang, Chairman of the SMa Institute of Higher Learning, and President of the Singapore Manufacturers’ Federation, said, “We are committed to the development of human capital in Singapore. As a not-for-profit organisation, our contribution to capacity building is to provide platforms for the community to access higher education through student assistance and community scholarship, such as this initiative with Tampines Central and Murdoch University.”

Recognising that character and leadership are integral to developing social capital holistically, the NECDC will sponsor recipients for developmental programmes.

This scheme was launched on Nov 23 2011, and applications for this scholarship will open in February 2012. Applications will be assessed by a community scholarship selection committee comprising representatives from the TCCCC and the NECDC.