{
  "id": 19034700,
  "title": "Mara to double number of students sent to Turkiye next year",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/mara-to-double-number-of-students-sent-to-turkiye-next-year-19034700",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-08T22:40:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/11/1573646/mara-double-number-students-sent-turkiye-next-year"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "ISTANBUL: Malaysia's Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) plans to double the number of students it sends to pursue higher education in Turkey next year, according to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. This initiative aims to bolster academic ties between the two countries. Speaking at a dinner with Malaysian students and staff from the Malaysian Embassy, Zahid pledged to send at least twice as many Mara-sponsored students to the same university next year. The inaugural batch of 17 students at Sabanci University are studying disciplines such as computer science, engineering, mechatronics engineering, molecular biology, bioengineering, data science, finance, materials science, and electronics engineering. Zahid praised their potential to excel in their respective fields upon completing their four-year studies. Present at the event were Deputy Secretary-General (bilateral affairs) Datuk Syed Mohamad Hasrin Tengku Hussin from the Foreign Ministry and Malaysia's Honorary Consul in Bursa, Turkiye, Datuk Cevdet Sefer. Zahid, who also serves as the rural and regional development minister, was on a four-day working visit to Turkey from November 5th until yesterday.",
  "summary": "Your browser does not support the audio element.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Bernama",
        "title": "General : MARA To Double Number Of Sponsored Students In Turkiye Next Year - DPM Zahid",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/general-mara-to-double-number-of-sponsored-students-in-turkiye-next",
        "published": "2026-11-07T23:22:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "MARA to double Turkiye scholars next year, says Zahid",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/mara-to-double-turkiye-scholars-next-year-says-zahid",
        "published": "2026-11-08T02:51:56.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}