$60,000 scholarship for ITE graduates launched by Tan Kah Kee Foundation

Graduates from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) will be able to apply for a new scholarship offered by the Tan Kah Kee Foundation starting May this year.

According to The Straits Times, a total of 10 scholarships worth $6000 each will be given out annually.

Successful applicants can use the merit-based scholarship to pursue further studies, including diplomas and university degrees. On top of the academic route, applicants can also choose to pursue any structured vocational training or apprenticeship programme.

Applicants also do not have to apply for the scholarship immediately upon graduation to qualify.

The scholarship will also be open to those who opt to start working first, before deciding to pursue further studies and training, said the foundation’s vice-president Associate Professor Eugene Tan.

A gala dinner was held at the Shangri-La Singapore on Sunday (Jan 8) to celebrate the foundation’s 40th anniversary, where proceeds from the gala would initially fund the scholarship for ITE graduates.

The Straits Times added that the proceeds, which amounted to over $1.3 million, will also be used to grow the foundation’s flagship activities including the annual organised postgraduate scholarship and Young Inventors’ Awards. 

The funds will also help to further improve the Pioneers’ Memorial Hall at 43 Bukit Pasoh Road, to better educate the public about pioneers in the Singapore community, such as Tan Kah Kee and Lee Kong Chian.

The Tan Kah Kee Foundation currently offers five postgraduate scholarships which do not carry any bond. Successful applicants will each receive a one-off sum of $12,000 for studying in the university.

Registration period opens from May 1 to 31 annually, where interviews will begin in July. 

Eligibility and application details of the various scholarships offered by the Tan Kah Kee Foundation can be found on its website.