SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME GIVES A TASTE OF WORKING WORLD
GETTING the opportunity to work in a leading multinational was too good an opportunity to pass for two aspiring world-changers.
Lim Ben-Jie and Ting Shi Jin saw an advertisement for the Taylor’s World Class Scholarship (TWCS) award programme and were immediately drawn to apply for a spot in the platform. There was also an added incentive of a full scholarship for the course of their education at Taylor’s University.
For Lim, the prospect of interning with a partner company was a key factor in his application. The internship would give him an added edge prior to joining the workforce after graduation.
Ting, who just completed his Bachelor of Software Engineering (Honours) degree, was motivated to apply for the scholarship because it had consistently attracted the support of top employers since its inception in 2008.
“I was ecstatic when I found out that I was accepted into the programme. It gave me validation of my capabilities and allowed me the opportunity to be recognised as a leader.
“I’m glad that I took up the challenge and stepped out of my comfort zone because I wouldn’t have been able to achieve everything I have now if not for the guidance I received through the course of my education,” he said.
Both Lim and Ting shared that the development opportunities they experienced through the programme allowed them to reach levels of growth they didn’t anticipate.
Lim puts the fact that he is working in his dream job down to the industry exposure he gained.
“TWCS opened many doors for me. My brief internship experience of working with my TWCS partner led me to secure a role as an investor relations executive with an airline that I have always been passionate about joining.
“Along the way, I met many bright individuals who became my inspiration and spurred me to work even harder,” he said.
Ting agreed, sharing that he really embraced all the events and activities organised by his TWCS partner, IBM.
“Through participating in the Global Entrepreneur Programme (GEP) launched by IBM, I was able to build up my skills with how-to tutorials and courses on IBM tools, launch cognitive solutions and join the huge tech community by connecting with developer and start- up communities.
“This definitely helped me during the development of the app Traquer, which allows travellers a voice to rate and increase the safety of Malaysians using the public transport system,” he said.
Both men shared that their involvement in the TWCS platform allowed them to accelerate their soft skill development, which is extremely crucial in this day and age.
“Being able to enhance my networking and communication skills was a pivotal learning experience. Now, more than ever, I value these skills as they are crucial in my current role as an executive assistant to my Group CEO.
“As part of my current responsibilities, I interact and work with the senior leadership team in my company on a daily basis.
“It is only as a result of the grounding that I got from the TWCS platform that I was able to hone my communication skills, which in turn allowed me to get work done effectively,” Lim said.
For Ting, leadership is one of the soft skills that he was able to enhance during his experience.
“I believe that consistency is needed to master soft skills. Gaining a spot in the TWCS programme spurred me to further develop myself as a leader and as a change maker.
“The last few years have allowed me to grow my confidence through leadership opportunities I have experienced, both at the university and with IBM.
“I feel compelled to take full advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring out the forward thinker in me and play a part in building the future global workforce here in Malaysia,” he said.
Over the course of more than a decade, Taylor’s University has invested a total of RM13.8mil in youth through the TWCS programme, supporting the ambitions of 165 world-class scholars like Lim and Ting.
To find out more about the Taylor’s World Class Scholarship award programme, check out university.taylors.edu.my/twcs/.