UMP introduces 4 student assistance incentives

Pekan, 27 October 2020 – The need for devices and internet access is crucial in undergoing online teaching and learning (T&L) activities, even more so in the COVID-19 pandemic, which has no signs of fully letting up soon.
To solve the issue faced by students, especially those from B40 income families, Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) via Yayasan UMP has initiated four initiatives for students since starting lecture sessions from early on this month, namely the Emergency Assistance Incentive (ibRes-Q), UMP Data Plan Incentive (ipd-UMP), UMP Device Assistance Incentive (ibp-UMP) and Cash Assistance Incentive (Zakat/Welfare) (ibt-UMP).
For the Emergency Assistance Incentive/Res-Q, UMP has disbursed RM133,000 of the allocated funds to students affected by the delay of on-campus registration since early October.
Meanwhile, the UMP Device Assistance is specifically for students who still do not have essential devices such as laptops for use during the T&L sessions.
According to the Chairman of Yayasan UMP, Dato’ Sri Md. Sharif Shamsuddin, with the one-off device assistance and internet data incentives provided, all T&L activities can be carried out more effectively.

“For this purpose, Yayasan UMP has allocated RM300,000 to accommodate the need to provide laptops for less fortunate students from the B40 group.

“At the same time, Yayasan UMP also received a contribution of 96 laptops from the university that will be distributed in stages for UMP students who require them,” he said in the programme recently organised by Yayasan UMP.

The event also witnessed the UMP Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ir. Dr. Wan Azhar Wan Yusoff presented several laptops for students.

Also present was the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni), Dato’ Dr. Yuserrie Zainudin, who is also the Vice Chairman of Yayasan UMP.
 
Yayasan UMP will also introduce a student loan scheme for UMP students who will be involved with the fast track bachelors’ degree entrance programme under the Institute of Graduate Studies (IPS).

In addition, those who achieve excellent results with a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least 3.9 are eligible to receive a fee waiver of 25% of the total loan payment.

Various efforts have been taken by Yayasan UMP in collecting funds, including the funds from staff, corporate bodies, and third parties, to help reduce the burden of students.

The assistance channeled to the students is in line with the objective of the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) in providing a learning experience that is conducive and balanced in an approach towards online education.

MoHE also announced a cash assistance initiative of RM50 for new students and various data plan assistance involving students from B40 groups as a result of strategic cooperation with telecommunication and device manufacturing partners.

Translation by: Dr. Rozaimi Abu Samah, Engineering College/Faculty of  Chemical and Process Engineering Technology