Higher education acts as a vital engine for social advancement, fostering the critical thinking and problem-solving skills necessary for lifelong empowerment. In Malaysia, the movement toward democratising quality education has gained significant momentum and through the Closing the Gap (CTG) program, it serves as one of the transformative impacts of mentorship in higher education.
CTG has spent the last seven years demonstrating the transformative power of mentorship. To date, the program has supported over 486 students and unlocking close to RM 16 million worth of scholarships. This invaluable support has enabled students to pursue their studies at prestigious institutions such as Stanford University, the University of Melbourne, Universiti Malaya, and Sunway University among others.
Building on this success, the CTG program continues its mission as a multi-year access project designed to equip underserved secondary school students with the mindset and guidance needed to reach their educational goals. Spanning two to three years of personalised mentoring, the program provides students with the necessary confidence to navigate the complexities of higher education and realize their full potential. This focused intervention not only enhances academic achievements but also fosters the personal growth and resilience required for success in today’s competitive world.
In a strategic partnership with Yayasan Tunku Abdul Rahman, we recently welcomed our 2024 Cohort of the Closing the Gap program. Fully sponsored by OSK Foundation, this intake consists of 69 secondary school students from across the Klang Valley who will benefit from the guidance of 68 young professionals and university students serving as mentors. Having served as the sole sponsor for both the 2021 and 2024 cohorts, we remain deeply committed to this initiative because there are many deserving students in Malaysia who may not get the necessary guidance to thrive or the roadmap to reach their goals, and we take great pride in providing the individualized mentorship they need to thrive through the CTG program. Our mission is to ensure every student has the chance to reach their full potential, whether through securing a scholarship or gaining clarity on their future paths.
The success of this approach is exemplified by Aishwarya Lakshmi, a 2022 CTG Scholar who was awarded the ASEAN Bright Sparks Scholarship to pursue her A-Levels at EPSOM College. At the 2024 launch, she shared that without the program, she would not have had the exposure to various higher education pathways or scholarship opportunities. Through the personalised guidance of her mentor, Sai Durgeshwari, Aishwarya was able to make informed decisions and successfully navigate her applications, proving that the right support can turn aspirations into reality.
