FOUR Malaysian Chevening scholars were welcomed to the BAE Systems Aircraft Facility in Warton Lancashire, North West England to learn more about the company’s aerospace engineering capabilities.
These scholars were sponsored by BAE Systems to pursue postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom before returning to further their careers and become future leaders of Malaysia.
The company’s support for the Chevening Scholarship programme extends to organising visits to several company sites in the UK.
This year, the scholars were given the opportunity to tour the Hawk and Typhoon aircraft production lines, where they met engineers working on the aircraft that would be exported. The Royal Malaysian Air Force has a fleet of Hawk and is evaluating the Typhoon multi-role aircraft as the next jet fighter for the air force.
BAE Systems international sales director (Typhoon) Andrew Lavin said: “BAE Systems is proud to sponsor the prestigious Chevening Scholarship scheme and continues to be delighted by the calibre of the Malaysian students who come to the UK to continue their postgraduate studies.
“At Defence Services Asia 2018, we will renew our commitment to Chevening Scholarships and, in doing so, will mean we have sponsored more than 50 Malaysian master’s students since 2012.
“The students saw first-hand our commitment to training our young engineers and apprentices and this commitment also applies to Malaysia.”
Among the Chevening Scholars from Malaysia are Ahmad Faisal, who is pursuing his Masters in Space Engineering at University of Surrey, Nicholas Cheng who is studying Conflict Studies at London School of Economics and Political Science, Mohd Rizal Hamdan who is studying Conflict, Security and Development at University of Sussex, Vidya Rubini Rani Nagarajan who is studying Clinical Neurology at University of Sheffield and Lee Long Hui, who is studying Digital Journalism at Goldsmiths, University of London.
“It has been an eye-opening experience to see the workings of the aerospace engineering industry. BAE Systems facilities are technologically advanced and its working environment and culture are among the best in the world,” said Ahmad Faisal.
Some of Malaysia’s best young cyber security specialists are employed at the BAE Systems Malaysian Engineering Centre in Kuala Lumpur, where over 350 Malaysian talents focus on global delivery and support of the company’s cyber security and financial crime detection services.