KUALA LUMPUR, 3 April 2013 – The anticipation of graduating and working in a corporate environment is something most undergraduates look forward to upon completing their education. At the same time, many also find the prospect daunting due to the uncertainty of what to expect and how to prepare for it. Recently Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) organised its annual Scholars’ Development Programme (SDP), a capacity-building engagement programme for scholars to boost their confidence and help prepare for challenges in their careers as future leaders within Sime Darby. The SDP is a five-day programme tailored to introduce and equip YSD scholars with relevant leadership and personal skills. 

This will enable them to be effective scholars and prepare them to take on their role as future leaders of Sime Darby and as effective team players with positive attitudes and good values. The programme is for scholars studying locally and overseas. Scholars studying abroad take part in the programme when they return to Malaysia for their internship with Sime Darby during the course of their studies. This year’s SDP saw 39 students, comprising 17 students from Malaysia, 12 students from Australia and 10 students from China.

The programme also engages Indonesian scholars sponsored by PT. Minamas Gemilang, a subsidiary of Sime Darby in Indonesia. Every year, a select number of Indonesian scholars who excelled in their studies are brought to Malaysia to participate in the same programme. The programme kicked off with the scholars getting involved in a community programme. They spent an entire day engaging 45 children aged from 11 to 17 from Yayasan Chow Kit (YCK), which runs various programmes for underprivileged children, with fun and interactive activities. 

The activity, which was held on February 3 at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa, was facilitated by YSD and YCK staff with the aim of exposing scholars to community work. YCK is one of YSD’s many beneficiaries under its community development pillar. YSD has pledged RM900,000 over the span of three years to fund YCK's education and recreational programmes for the children and youths in the Chow Kit area. The scholars spent the next four days at the Merlimau Estate Training Centre (METC) in Malacca. Talks by experienced trainers from within the Sime Darby Group were held with topics ranging from effective communications, creating a winning resume and acing job interviews were covered to prepare them for the workforce. Mock interviews were also simulated to give scholars an idea of how best to prepare for the working environment. 

Other activities included the YSD Survivor Programme - a customised team building activity providing real life simulations to improve teamwork, build character and to understand the importance of using emotional intelligence and behaving with honesty and integrity. Law student Carmen Khiah, who is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree at the Monash University in Australia, said she felt confident and inspired to make a difference as a YSD scholar at the end of the programme. She also praised the facilitators for executing well-planned and highly interactive learning sessions.

Erica Choong, who is studying at Melbourne University, said the SDP programme provided her with a clearer view of what to expect when making the transition to the working environment soon. "The programme taught us how to incorporate practical, real-life skills like communication, networking and working as a team in a corporate setting through technical talks and mock practice sessions," said Choong. The scholars also had the opportunity to have dinner with YSD chairman Tun Musa Hitam, who shared his inspirational anecdotes on how he succeeded as a political and corporate leader. Also present was YSD chief executive officer Pn Hjh Yatela Zainal Abidin. 

The foundation will be formally opening applications for its scholarship and bursary programmes in March. Some of the notable programmes available include the YSD Excellence Scholarship Programme, YSD Bursary Programme (for special needs and special support), YSD Skill Enrichment Programme and YSD International Scholarship Programme in China.