MARA to double Turkiye scholars next year, says Zahid

ISTANBUL, Nov 8 — The Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) aims to double the number of sponsored Malaysian students studying in Turkey next year, following the successful placement of its initial batch of 17 students in September. Deputy Prime Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi disclosed this aspiration, stating it as part of expanding international education opportunities for exceptional students while strengthening academic ties between Malaysia and Turkey.

Speaking at a dinner with Malaysian students and staff at the Malaysian Embassy in Turkey, Zahid emphasized that MARA would ensure at least twice as many students are sent to the same universities, Sabanci University and Yildiz Technical University, in the upcoming academic year. The students' academic performance will be vital in demonstrating that MARA made correct selections, opening doors for more Malaysian students to benefit from similar opportunities in the future.

As the chair of the National Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council, Zahid also highlighted that Malaysian students in Turkey serve as young ambassadors, embodying Malaysia’s identity, character, and image on the global stage. MARA chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki noted that the first batch's placement was accomplished swiftly, just four months after discussions commenced, following Zahid's directive to expedite the initiative.

These students, chosen from two MARA preparatory colleges for their outstanding academic performance since their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examinations, are not ordinary. They are among the best, selected based on their academic achievements. Intan Alysha Safiya Hairil Alfian, a first-year Computer Science student at Sabanci University, and Haziq Firdaus Ramzizan, a first-year Mechatronics Engineering student at the same university, expressed gratitude towards MARA's sponsorship, which has significantly alleviated financial burdens and allowed them to focus on their studies without undue stress.

Earlier, MARA bolstered academic collaboration between Malaysia and Turkey by signing Letters of Collaboration (LOCs) with Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) and Universiti Poly-Tech Malaysia (UPTM), as well as Sabanci University and Yildiz Technical University (YTU). The collaboration with Sabanci University emphasizes joint undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs, curriculum alignment, and pathways to doctoral studies via joint supervision and collaborative research.

The partnership with YTU concentrates on ship design research and model testing, utilizing wave tank facilities at YTU alongside those at Universiti Kuala Lumpur's Malaysian Institute of Marine Engineering Technology (UniKL Mimet). During his four-day working visit from November 5 to 8, Zahid participated as a panelist at the TRT World Forum 2026 at the Istanbul Congress Centre.