In my earlier post on setting up a non-profit organisation to facilitate and promote education and other related issues, I have mentioned an alumni of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) who was keen to mentor students in their application to the top universities in the United States (US). Subsequently, I have also received an email from a fairly well known Malaysian entrepreneur and an alumni of Cambridge expressing keen interest in taking part.
Just over the holiday weekend, I met up with a current postgraduate student of Harvard University, as well as an alumni of MIT who proposed a SAT scholarhip scheme for top SPM students keen on pursuing an education at the top US universities. This will sit well together with the mentorship programme which we intend to set up as part of this non-profit organisation set up.
Also during this little discussion, we were joined by another MIT alumni who is currently an associate professor and dean of Information Technology at one of the local private universities. Apparently, he is working out a "terms of reference" for some scholarships which will be funded by certain wealthy individuals for top performing Malaysian students to pursue education at the top universities overseas.
And now, through TinKosong, Vanessa Chan, currently a freshman at University of California @ Berkeley is seeking like-minded individuals to join her on a education roadshow around the country to promote and elaborate the mechanics and route to gaining entry into some of the top universities overseas.
In a gist, the Roadshow preliminary details are:
When: Summer 2006 (May - September 2006)The blogpost has more details such as additional Q&As on what the event will entail. For those interested, please feel free to contact Vanessa at vanessachan at berkeley.edu for more details. I will be in touch with Vanessa separate to see how I can be of assistance :-)
Where: All around secondary schools in Malaysia
What: Promoting alternate ways of obtaining higher education to students in secondary schools in Malaysia. We give them the information they need on admissions, financial aid, scholarships etc.
Who: Anyone studying outside Malaysia who wants to share experiences and encourage more Malaysians to aply to their university/country. Anyone who wants to be a part of a good thing. Anyone who wants to have fun and be doing something worthwhile as well.
As highligted in my New Year post, I do hope to get some critical large business contracts out of the way in this couple of weeks for my firm, and I will be able to spend more time to make this non-profit organisation idea a reality. Fingers crossed, but this shall be my "New Year Resolution 2006".
Sigh. How I wish I was 18 again...