Kota Kinabalu, June 26, 2009
Shell Malaysia will continue to complement the government's efforts to develop and enhance Malaysian human capital through its scholarship programme. Stating this in his speech at the Shell Scholarship & Bursary Awards presentation ceremony held at the University Malaysia Sabah Recital Hall, Managing Director of Shell Malaysia Exploration & Production Companies, Dato Wee Yiaw Hin said that the business community could play an integral role in realising this manpower requirement.
"As partner in Malaysia’s progress, Shell is proud to contribute to sustainable development in the country by enhancing our nation's intellectual asset pool through this programme," he added. He urged the students to continue to work hard and be motivated to succeed not only in their studies but also in their future careers. The long running Shell Scholarship programme has benefited many bright young boys and girls from Sabah and a number of them have become leaders in their chosen fields within and outside Shell.
Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Musa Hj Aman presented the awards to the recipients who excelled academically and shone at extra-curricular activities.
Funding from the Shell Scholarship Fund (SSF) provides scholarships and incentive awards to deserving Malaysians to pursue studies in approved institutions either locally or abroad. Shell Malaysia invests RM11 million countrywide in various educational assistance or capacity building programme annually. Out of the amount, RM3.9 million is allocated for Sabah.
Thirty students from Sabah received Shell scholarships to further their studies at universities throughout Malaysia. A further 5 students will study overseas under Shell funding. Students were selected on the basis of their outstanding academic performance in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), matriculation year or Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM) as well as other considerations. Shell also reinstated pre-university level scholarships last year. Currently SSF supports 208 scholars from throughout Malaysia at various universities locally and 25 scholars overseas. In addition, annually, 200 students from Sabah receive bursaries for excellence in their Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) and SPM examinations.
Dato Wee further disclosed that Shell would continue to partner the state government as well as other stakeholders in their long-standing educational, youth development and other community-oriented programmes which are designed with the underlying objective of progressing capacity building, knowledge enhancement, skill development and promoting health and safety and environmental concern.
These included the Shell Traffic Games, Nature Education Camps, Sports Excellence Awards, health related programmes as well as the Kinabalu-Shell Press Award. In the area of conservation, Shell co-sponsored the research facility for mangrove conservation in Lahad Datu. Shell International has signed a 5-year Agreement from 2009 with the Earthwatch Institute, Europe for biodiversity research and capacity building at the Danum Valley partnering Yayasan Sabah, University Malaysia Sabah and The Royal Society South East Asia Rainforest Research Programme (SEARRP), U.K.
Shell also works closely with universities in Malaysia to regularly share information on the oil and gas industry and employment opportunities within Shell Malaysia, as well as collaborate on research programmes. These include attraction and recruitment programmes via the Campus Ambassador Programme and the Practical Environmental, Safety and Industrial Guidance for Engineers (PRESTIGE).
Recently, Shell together with Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) launched the South East Asia Carbonate Research laboratory (SEACARL), a new research and teaching centre dedicated to carbonate studies. Under SEACARL, courses will be conducted to compliment the current Geosciences and Petroleum Engineering courses.
In July 2010, Shell will host the inaugural Shell Eco-marathon Asia event. The Eco-marathon challenges university students in the region including Malaysia to design, build, and test vehicles that travel the furthest using the least amount of energy.
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Issued by Shell Malaysia Corporate Affairs, Sarawak Shell Berhad/Sabah Shell Petroleum Co Ltd., Locked Bag No. 1, 98009 Miri, Sarawak. For any query, please contact Datin Lucy Irene Yong, Tel: 088-243169, or Victor Klanang, Tel: 012-8773498. | 
