Many opportunities at home for JPA scholars who return

When asked why, he had a simple answer:

"The Malaysian government sponsored me right from my A Levels. Without this sponsorship, I would not have had the opportunity to apply to, let alone enter Harvard University. It is only right that I come back to serve my end of the bargain."

It is only right that I come back to serve my end of the bargain."

Nicholas, along with 13 other JPA scholars who returned to serve their government scholarship bonds, had the opportunity to share their experiences with the Prime Minister YAB Dato’ Sri Najib Tun Razak at a recent dialogue organised by TalentCorp.

Unlike these 14 scholars, many overseas-educated JPA scholars are reluctant to return home after graduation as they think that there are no opportunities available for them back home (JPA scholars are under bond to work with the Government upon graduation). 

TalentCorp’s Scholarship Talent Attraction and Retention (STAR) initiative, launched by the Prime Minister in 2011, offers a solution to this problem. It enables returning scholars, who are not selected to work with the Government, to serve their bonds in the private sector. 

A lot of students have the misconception that there are no opportunities here in Malaysia."

“A lot of students have the misconception that there are no opportunities here in Malaysia,” said Muhammad Syamil, a financial analyst at IBM Malaysia. Syamil graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in economics. 

Be it in the public or private sector, JPA scholars can expect challenging and rewarding careers once they return to Malaysia. 

“The demand for top JPA graduates far exceeds the supply, particularly for foreign-trained scholars. Currently, more than 3,000 scholars are registered under STAR and serving their scholarship bond with 1,700 private sector companies driving the country’s economic transformation,” said Shareen Shariza Dato’ Abdul Ghani, TalentCorp’s CEO.  

The growing need for Malaysia’s top young talent to return and contribute to the nation is an issue that cannot be ignored. To succeed, Malaysia needs all its talents, young and experienced, heading towards the same direction, working together towards the advancement of Malaysia. The contract signed between the scholars and the Government embodies the amanah of the rakyat, thus returning home to serve the nation is a promise that needs to be kept.

"As clearly stated from the start, the scholarship comes with a bond," said Nadira Jeannot, an architecture graduate from the University of Melbourne. "By accepting this scholarship, it is on us to give back to the country." Nadira now works with Gamuda Berhad on the Klang Valley MRT project. 

There might be opportunities overseas, however, that will mean developing their country and not our own."

“There might be opportunities overseas, however, that will mean developing their country and not our own,” said Hannamalai Caruppaiya, a graduate from France’s University Nice Sophia Antipolis, who now works as an electrical engineer with PETRONAS.

“They are already a developed nation, while Malaysia is still developing. I want to help develop my own country.”