I was pleased today to present next year's Endeavour Malaysia Awards, Endeavour Postgraduate Awards and Endeavour Malaysia Research Fellowships to a number of outstanding Malaysian scholars.
The scholarships will strengthen educational ties between Australia and Malaysia, and help us to further enhance our long-term bilateral relationship through the cultural and academic exchange of knowledge.
Of the 13 winners for 2007, four were awarded Endeavour Postgraduate Awards worth $195,000 each, five received the Endeavour Malaysia Award worth $50,000 each and four received the Endeavour Malaysia Research Fellowship worth $25,000 each.
The Endeavour Program aims to strengthen education links between Australia and the Asia-Pacific region by supporting high-achieving students and professionals in their fields of study and research. The Program also awards scholarships to Australians to study or conduct research in the Asia-Pacific region. In 2007, two Australians will undertake study in Malaysia.
The Endeavour Program is part of the Australian Government's larger Australian Scholarships initiative worth $1.4 billion. The initiative aims to build enduring people-to-people links within the Asia-Pacific region through the exchange of knowledge and the sharing of ideas.
The selection of Endeavour award winners followed a competitive and merit-based process, with eligible applications being assessed by panels of academics and professionals.
I was pleased that the Minister of Higher Education Malaysia YB Dato' Mustapa bin Mohamed was able to attend the awards ceremony. This is a clear reflection of the value of the education relationship shared between Australia and Malaysia.
Malaysian Endeavour Awards scholarship winners
Mr Hean Leng Ang - Endeavour Postgraduate Award
Ms Nasreen Badruddin - Endeavour Postgraduate Award
Miss Li Laine Ooi - Endeavour Postgraduate Award
Miss Guak-Kim Tan - Endeavour Postgraduate Award
Mr Keith Leong Yu Keen - Endeavour Malaysia Award
Mr Weikong Pang - Endeavour Malaysia Award
Miss Mangalam Sankupellay - Endeavour Malaysia Award
Dr Heok Yit Tan - Endeavour Malaysia Award
Mrs Yusmarhaini Yusof - Endeavour Malaysia Award
Dr Anna Abdullah - Endeavour Malaysia Award
Ms Lay Wah Lee - Endeavour Malaysia Research Fellowship
Ms Seok-Hoon Quah - Endeavour Malaysia Research Fellowship
Mr Adnan Zulkiple - Endeavour Malaysia Research Fellowship