Kuching: Limkokwing Institute of Creative Technology is offering Rm500,000 worth of scholarships to deserving students in Sarawak to pursue education at its campuses in either Kuala Lumpur or London.

Its chief executive officer Datuk Parid Wardi said this is part of the institute’s effort to nurture the talent and creativity of young Sarawakians and to enrich the state’s human capital development.

“Limkokwing is also pleased to announce that it will launch an annual award – Kuching Creativity Award – this year to celebrate the creativity of Sarawakians.

“The award is aimed at bringing the creativity of Sarawak to the world, making it the best showcase in Sarawak,” he said before Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud officially opened Limkokwing Sarawak at its campus at Jalan Nanas here yesterday. Parid added that participants of the award to be introduced have to submit their work – be it music, poems, articles or best shows staged.

“Sarawakians are among the most creative people in Malaysia. They are widely acknowledged to be the best in many areas of human endeavour.

“Most prominently, they dominate in the creative industries as writers, innovators, composers, performers, producers and directors,” he said.

He disclosed that Limkokwing plans to expand its network in 20 more countries within the coming five years.

“We will set up campuses in countries where we can make a difference, where we can make a contribution,” he said, adding that currently it has a global network of 12 campuses in seven countries.

Jakarta, Beijing, Phnom Penh, Gaborone, Maseru and London.

Parid pointed out that the institute has built up a collegial network of more than 170 universities spread over 77 countries in support of its global classroom concept.

“Sarawak is an important part of our global initiative. Our primary objective here is to assist in the social and economic transformation of Sarawak.”

He said the institute believes the state’s prosperity lay in empowering young people with the skills to use the tolls of digitised functions and global connectivity.

Thus, it has initiated the process of creating the most hi-tech learning environment to empower students with the latest in digital technology.

“At Limkokwing, every student will use the latest technology to create content. A student from even the most remote part of Sarawak and its many attractions to a global audience,” said Parid.

He added that the institute’s website has over 300 pages and this would continue to grow into a space full of information about Sarawak’s culture, economy and people.

To date, Limkokwing has 25,000 students from 145 countries. In Kuala Lumpur it has 9,000 students from 135 countries while there are more than 500 students from 10 countries in Kuching.