Yayasan UEM helps 5 pursue scholarly dreams

New Straits Times

2 days ago

KUALA LUMPUR: She once worked as a fruit cutter at the Pagoh rest and service (R&R) area in Johor, but now, Nur Qalidah Farhana Mohd Azman is a Yayasan UEM scholar, whose ambition is to study electrical engineering at Imperial College London.
The daughter of a contractor and school janitor, Qalidah never imagined that she would one day have the opportunity to study abroad.
Her original plan was to enrol at Universiti Teknologi Petronas, which motivated her to work part-time at the Pagoh R&R area to save money for her tertiary education.
"My mother told me that if I wanted to pursue a higher education, I'd have to wait a while and find the money first.
"They didn't want me to work at the R&R area, but I insisted. At their age, my parents needed to rest," said the 18-year-old.
Qalidah worked on weekdays and sometimes up to 13 hours a day on weekends, earning about RM1,500 a month.
Her financial worries were lifted when she was awarded the 2025 Yayasan UEM Global Scholarship. She was the only female recipient among five this year.
Before sitting the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), Qalidah didn't have a specific career in mind — her only goal was to excel academically.
"If you have a dream, you need to take the first step and then seek help. Everything depends on you.
"I didn't expect to get 9As. I was active in hockey competitions and only managed three As in my trial exams.
"My parents are my biggest motivation — I want them to have an easier life," she said, recalling how she survived on four hours of sleep at SM Sains Muzaffar Syah in Melaka.
Yayasan UEM chief executive officer Aishah Nor said: "We subscribe to the notion that education is a fundamental building block for individual opportunity and economic growth.
"Our scholarships not only ease the burden of educational expenses but also provide exemplary students from modest backgrounds with the support and opportunities they need to realise their academic and career aspirations."
The youngest and only girl among five siblings, Qalidah decided to study electrical engineering after discussing job market trends with her brother, Muhammad Suffian Aqmaar, 26.
The other four Yayasan UEM scholars — Justin Low Chun Xian, Muhammad Aqil Aqmar Mohd Nazrol Hisham, Khor Sheng Zhong, and Aqashah Azri — also planned to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics courses at top United Kingdom universities after completing their A Level.
All were present at the awards ceremony, which was also attended by UEM Group managing director and member of Yayasan UEM's board of trustees, Datuk Amran Hafiz Affifudin.