It was a dream come true for Boon Kean Hoe when he found out that he had won the coveted High Achievers Scholarship to further his studies at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia – giving him the opportunity to follow his education dreams and ease his family’s financial commitments in sending him overseas.
The UNSW Business School International High Achievers Scholarship, valued at AUD$10,000 is a merit-based scholarship that is made available to undergraduate applicants from eligible pathway partner institutions in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam. Kean Hoe was pursuing the Australian Degree Transfer Programme (Commerce) at INTI International University when he applied for the scholarship and was selected to continue his studies in the Bachelor in Commerce (majoring in Accounting) programme at the UNSW campus in Sydney, which he began in February 2018.
Having spent a couple of months settling into his new home, Kean Hoe shared, “Studying at the University of New South Wales has already been a wonderful experience! The community is friendly and I have gained access to resources that are truly world-class. I continuously receive support and assistance from almost everyone here, from the volunteers at the Student Development Office, to my lecturers and tutors.
“As a prestigious university that’s ranked among the top 50 in the world, education is taught a little differently compared to in Malaysia. There is no spoon-feeding of information and a lot of learning comes from one’s own initiatives and effort, but I’m thankful that I have access to a huge warehouse of resources and guidance to help me adapt to these new learning methods. It is also crucial to have an open and tolerant mind to accept, learn and experience the diversity of this wonderful university.”
Established in 1949, UNSW is ranked 3rd in Australia, 45th in the world, and 1st in New South Wales according to the 2017 QS World University Rankings, and is one of numerous world-class universities to which INTI students have transferred to from across various programmes, including the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Dr Joseph Lee, Vice Chancellor of INTI International University shared, “We are truly proud of Kean Hoe’s achievement in obtaining this prestigious scholarship. At INTI, we offer programmes that align with international expectations, with emphasis on innovation, internationalisation and individualisation to prepare our students for the challenges of the working world. Kean Hoe is a fine example of how local education institutions can uncover the hidden talents that can be found in each and every student and with proper nurturing, students can thrive and be their best, even on the international stage. We are confident Kean Hoe will continue to grow through this opportunity to complete his studies in Australia and will be highly sought-after by employers upon graduation.”