The United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator for Malaysia, Michelle Gyles-Mcdonnough, paid an official visit to Limkokwing University on 15 January.
Prior to joining the UN, Gyles-McDonnough served as the first resident Legal Advisor to the Embassy of Jamaica in Washington, D.C. She holds a law degree from Columbia University School of Law, with Honours in International and Foreign Law, and a Masters in Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Upon her arrival, she was welcomed by both staff and students then taken on a campus tour to give her a glimpse of the University’s unique ecosystem.
During the campus tour, Gyles-McDonnough was introduced to refugee students who are pursuing their Professional Diploma with full scholarships from Limkokwing University in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The refugee students were happy to express the experiences they gained from participating in various events and activities at the campus.
“Limkokwing University prepares us for the real world. With the exposure and skills we gain here, we are prepared to face the real world when we start working,” said Arslan Saleem, a refugee student from Pakistan who has been residing in Malaysia since 2011.
Gyles-McDonnough hopes that the students will use this opportunity well in order to support their families and help other less fortunate refugees.
“Out of the 148,000 refugees, you are the lucky 30. Being able to mix with students from all over the word will help bridge understanding and hopefully eradicate the misconceptions surrounding refugees,” she explained.
Limkokwing University believes that nurturing young talents in a multicultural ecosystem will promote peace and understanding among its students who come from diverse communities. The University is committed to helping talented refugee youths to realise their potential, and lift themselves and their families from poverty and social discrimination.
Annually, selected refugee students will be receiving full scholarships to pursue Professional Diplomas in Event Management, Web and Interactive Design as well as Hair Design.
