Mara to double number of students sent to Turkiye next year

ISTANBUL: More Malaysian students will have the opportunity to pursue higher education in Türkiye next year, with Mara planning to double its sponsorship intake.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the move was part of efforts to strengthen academic ties between the two countries.

"I will ensure that, at the very least, Mara will send twice the number of students to the same university next year," he said at a dinner with Malaysian students and Malaysian Embassy staff in Turkiye last night.

Zahid said the first batch of students are expected to prove themselves as among the best in their respective fields upon completing their four-year studies.

Meanwhile, Mara chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the decision to send the 17 students followed discussions with the Turkish government that began in April.

He said the first batch was sent in September, following Zahid's directive for the initiative to be implemented within a short timeframe.

"These are not ordinary students. They are among the best, selected from two Mara preparatory colleges after showing outstanding achievement since the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) level," he said.

Zahid attended the dinner with the 17 Mara-sponsored students from Sabanci University.

The students are pursuing degrees in computer science and engineering, mechatronics engineering, molecular biology and bioengineering, data science, finance, materials science and electronics engineering.

Also present were Foreign Ministry deputy secretary-general (bilateral affairs) Datuk Syed Mohamad Hasrin Tengku Hussin and Malaysia's Honorary Consul in Bursa, Turkiye, Datuk Cevdet Sefer.

Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, is on a four-day working visit to Turkiye from Nov 5 to 8.