RM5 Million Education Fund For KarangKraf

Left to right – SEGi's Ailinton Datuk Isahak (Director of Business Development), Datuk Clement Hii (Chief Executive Officer), YB. . Datuk Dr. Haji Shafie Mohd Salleh (Minister of Higher Education) and Tuan Hj. Fickry Hj Yaacub, Chairman of Kumpulan Karangkraf.

13th June 2005 Staff and their family members, as well of qualified readers of Kumpulan Karangkraf have the opportunity to obtain a qualification or skill with the set up of the Karangkraf Education Fund. The said fund, valued at RM5 million, was officially launched by the Minister of Higher Education, YB Datuk Dr. Haji Shafie Mohd Salleh at the Karangkraf's headquarters recently. The Minister also witnessed the signing of Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between Kumpulan Karangkraf and SEG International Group (SEGi) in establishing the education fund. Signing on behalf of Kumpulan Karangkraf was its chairman, Tuan Hj. Fickry Hj Yaacub, whilst SEGi was represented by its Group CEO, Datuk Clement Hii. Qualified staff and readers of Karangkraf have the opportunity to pursue quality courses and programmes offered at SEGi colleges in disciplines such as engineering, IT, management, accounting, creative arts and law.

The Karangkraf Education Fund also allows these students to further their studies at degree, master and doctorate levels with top-notch collaborating universities from the UK , US and Australia .

“The government has been taking numerous steps to instil lifelong learning in all of us,” said Datuk Clement Hii, Chief Executive Officer of SEGi. “We feel it is our social responsibility in this initiative by working with Kumpulan Karangraf under what we call a valued corporate partnership in upgrading the qualification and skills of its staff and their family members, as well as readers.”

Echoing Datuk Hii's statement, Tuan Hj. Fickry said that this movement will allow them to prepare their organisation to face the changes of globalisation and to play a part in achieving the vision of an economy empowered by knowledge. “We want Karangkraf to be a learning organisation,” he added.

Datuk Dr. Haji Shafie said, in his speech, that he hopes this collaboration should set an example for all other companies to set up learning organisations.

The Minister also lauded the choice of SEGi as Karangkraf's partner. “SEGi is a private education group that carries with it more than 28 years of experience in education and training. With 16,000 students, 14 colleges and 6 training centres, SEGi can lay claim to be the largest private education provider in the country”, Datuk Shafie said.

The partnership can be likened to a marriage between two giants in media and education.

Datuk Shafie expressed hopes that more efforts are made between private sectors to further promote quality education in Malaysia , consistent with the government's aim at making Malaysia the regional centre of educational excellence.

Those interested to find out more about the Karangkraf Education Fund can email askme@segi.edu.my or log on for more information at www.segi.edu.my