Sher Minn Chong will graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison this Spring with no student debt and a clear post-graduation plan. But unlike many students, Chong, a government scholar from Malaysia, signed on to this plan before she even arrived in Madison.
In Malaysia, where many families cannot afford to pay for students to study abroad and the government is working with increased intensity to retain skilled workers, students like Chong can apply for all-inclusive scholarships to worldwide institutions.
But in accepting such a scholarship, the student also agrees to return to work within his or her country after graduation, often for the government. Students who decide not to return home or leave their work bond job early must pay their government back for some or all of the cost of their education.
Students from nine other countries with government scholar programs also attend UW-Madison according to Laurie Cox, assistant dean and director of International Student Services. These countries range from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Kazakhstan to Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand and Taiwan.
“International students benefit from having that opportunity … to expand their horizons prior to entering the workforce,” Cox said. “I think that’s true of all the students that study at UW-Madison.”
Chong’s scholarship from the Malaysian Public Service Department includes a six year work bond. These work bonds can be in public or private sector positions and are often related to the student’s major.
“It’s a really good opportunity,” said Chong, who is majoring in computer science and philosophy. “I’m really lucky.”
Brazil also offers government scholarships to doctorate students and, for the first time this academic year, undergraduates. Brazilian students who receive funding to attend foreign institutions sign a contract to work in the country for twice as long as they spend abroad.
Alessandra Fiore, a senior majoring in industrial engineering with one more year of university education to complete in Brazil, told The Daily Cardinal in December living in another culture was an “amazing” experience. Fiore returned to Brazil in late December.
“I would love if my university was like this,” Fiore said, adding she found professors at UW-Madison to be more helpful than they would have been in Brazil. “I learn here much more than I learn there because the professor wants me to learn.”
But whether or not the students grow fond of American culture, each scholarship program includes the stipulation of returning to the country they call home. Fiore said although she has thought about living in the United States, she misses Brazil.
“I really miss my family in Brazil, and I miss our culture,” she said.
Chong also said she misses the people and food back home. But in addition to her contract and homesickness, the thought of work that can still be done in Malaysia to improve the country draws her back.
“There’s this huge need for people who have seen how things can be done differently to go back to Malaysia and work on that,” Chong said. “I feel that a lot of scholars who have studied overseas have that to contribute to Malaysia.”
