University of Southampton Malaysia expands its efforts to advance Mechanical Engineering students

• The top three performing students in Mechanical Engineering at University of Southampton Malaysia Campus have each been awarded Lloyd’s Register Foundation scholarships.

These prestigious scholarships cover each scholar’s tuition and academic fees including two years at the University of Southampton UK campus. This is a first for the UK-based University to offer these industry-sponsored scholarships at its Malaysian campus.

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 Scholars of the Lloyd’s Register Foundation allows deserving students the opportunity to focus on developing their skills and preparing for a career in engineering.[/caption]

Guest of Honour, Mark Darley, South Asia Area Manager of Lloyd’s Register, presented the lucrative scholarships to Jeremy Fong, (20), Tai Je See, (20), and Yap Jun Hou (21) following their excellent performance in both academic and personal aspects throughout

their first year. Scholars are selected following a rigorous process which considers the strength of each scholar’s academic results and achievements with consideration given to their all-around extra-curricular contribution as part of the University community.

“These scholarships, offered through the generosity of the Lloyd’s Register Foundation will give students who have the aptitude and enthusiasm to maximise their potential as engineers and create the pathways to pursue their dreams,” enthused Professor John McBride, Chief Executive Officer of University of Southampton Malaysia Campus.

To ensure that the students are unrivalled in their preparation for an increasingly dynamic industry, Lloyd’s Register Foundation (LRF) provides the merit scholarships through the university. LRF supports the advancement of engineering-related education, funds research and development. Although set up as a charity in 2012, it draws on the public benefit history of Lloyd’s Register and encompasses The Lloyd’s Register Educational Trust.

“We congratulate each recipient of these inaugural scholarships offered by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation which allows these  deserving students the opportunity to focus on developing their skills and preparing for a career in engineering whilst alleviating the

financial burdens of undergraduate study. We want to provide support to help tomorrow’s engineers to enter the workforce and continuously redefine the industry through their ingenuity,” said Mark Darley.

The University of Southampton Malaysia Campus rolled out its first intake of 22 Mechanical Engineering students in September 2012 followed by more than 30 new students in 2013 to study Mechanical Engineering and Electrical & Electronic Engineering. LRF’s agreement with the University is to fund eighteen scholarships in both disciplines over a period of four years.

The University and Lloyd’s Register (LR) have enjoyed a close working relationship for more than 40 years. In 2012, the University launched the Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute (SMMI) stimulated by the ever strengthening relationship with LR. A key element of the vision for the Institute is an investment of £130M to redevelop part of the University campus in Southampton to co-locate LR’s new Global Technology Centre with the SMMI to create a world-leading centre for innovation, business and education in the maritime engineering sciences and other relevant disciplines.

This development is due to partially open in 2014. To offer students with a more complete experience, the University of Southampton is also establishing a new Industrial Advisory Board (IAB) in Malaysia. The purpose of the IAB is to facilitate close links with industry and to discuss the development of internships and placement programmes that are built around organisational business needs.

Organisations invited to take part in the Industrial Advisory Board include Malaysian-based organisations such as Tektronix, Infineon Technologies, Spirit Aero Systems Malaysia, the Institute of Engineers Malaysia and the United Kingdom Department for Trade & Investment.