Jointly issued by Singapore Management University and MasterCard Worldwide
Singapore, 27 March 2012 – MasterCard Worldwide today announced the recipients of the MasterCard MBA Scholarships for Women 2012. Two MBA students from Singapore Management University (SMU), Akshita Goyal and Wu Jiachao, have been offered full scholarships as part of a three-year collaboration between MasterCard and SMU. Under the collaboration, MasterCard will make a donation of up to S$120,000 in total from 2011 to 2013 to support two scholarships per year.
The MasterCard MBA Scholarships for Women is awarded to full-time female MBA candidates from Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa, who possess an excellent academic record, demonstrate strong leadership potential and entrepreneurship skills, participate actively in the community, as well as exhibit a drive to excel.
The scholarship presents an opportunity for the recipients to gain an MBA education in one of Asia's most advanced and cosmopolitan cities. Furthermore the award empowers them to better manage their scholastic and community commitments, and develops them into academically outstanding, business savvy and socially responsible women.
The 2012 recipients of the scholarships, Akshita Goyal and Wu Jiachao, were chosen for their outstanding academic performance, leadership as well as passion for community service.
“I am deeply honoured to have been selected for the MasterCard Scholarship. It is very gratifying to know that MasterCard supports issues close to my heart, including vocational training for underprivileged women. This scholarship will not only help me manage my academic and business aspirations but will also encourage me to continue my efforts in taking up initiatives beneficial to the society. I hope to inspire more women to take up leadership roles and to encourage them to give back to their communities.” said Akshita Goyal, MBA student, SMU.
“I am excited and honoured to win the MasterCard Scholarship. The scholarship will empower me to achieve my career ambition and motivate me to contribute more to the community. I believe that MasterCard helps women unleash their potential and supports them to be the best they can be. I certainly hope that more women can be inspired to realise their dreams and to give back to the community.” said Wu Jiachao, MBA student, SMU.
Professor Howard Thomas, Dean of the Lee Kong Chian School of Business at SMU said, “We thank MasterCard Worldwide for supporting the outstanding female students in our MBA programme. SMU embraces diversity as we provide a holistic education to our students. We have seen an increase in the number of female participants in our MBA programme since its inception in 2009; in fact, 52% of the Class of 2012 are women. Such gender diversity, along with diversity in professional background and nationality, strengthens our MBA programme and translates into a strong value-proposition to all our students,”
“Community service is an important part of the SMU philosophy and DNA, so I'm also heartened that we have a like-minded partner in MasterCard who values our students' contributions in the community beyond just academic achievements,” he added.
“MasterCard is pleased to be collaborating with SMU in empowering women by equipping them with valuable knowledge through further education. The scholarships will help them achieve their full potential to excel in the business world,” said Georgette Tan, group head, Communications, Asia/Pacific, Middle East & Africa, MasterCard Worldwide. “Our latest survey on women's advancement has shown that while more women have access to job opportunities and tertiary education, there is still room for improvement, especially when it comes to women taking top positions in government or business. We hope that this year's scholarship winners will strive to make positive impacts in their communities,” she added.
Hear what Akshita Goyal and Wu Jiachao have to say.
About MasterCard
MasterCard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com, is a global payments and technology company. It operates the world's fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. MasterCard's products and solutions make everyday commerce activities – such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone. Follow us on Twitter @mastercardnews , join the conversation on The Heart of Commerce Blog and subscribe for the latest news .
