Skyline University College chief on his college’s scholarship fund

Since its inception in 1990, the Skyline University College (SUC) in Sharjah has been offering financial aid for different categories of students including career people who had to discontinue their studies for various reaons and wish to resume their studies. For the current academic year (2013-2014), a fund of Dh35 million has been allocated for scholarships.

Nitin Anand, chairman of the executive committee of SUC, tells Education why the scholarship fund is such a central part of SUC’s push for education. 

What are the various categories of scholarship awarded to students at SUC?

SUC awards scholarship mainly in three categories: (1) merit-based, (2) need-based and (3) MOU-based (Memorandum of Understanding) Scholarships. To elaborate, merit-based scholarships are awarded to students who at the time of enrolment bring high grades from the qualifying exams. For example, high school results for admission in an undergraduate program.

Secondly, need-based scholarships are awarded to students who apply for financial help in tuition fee. This scholarship is awarded by a Committee at SUC taking into consideration the financial background of the student, his/her academic performance and recommendations.

The third category of scholarship is for students aspiring to join SUC on recommendation of an organisation with which SUC has entered into an MOU for such a purpose. These organisations could be government departments, semi-government and autonomous bodies, corporate houses including banks and financial Institutions, embassies/consulates, and schools. The demography of UAE population is multinational and multicultural, thus it is necessary to reach out to all types of organisations. 

What are the criteria for merit-based scholarship?

Merit has a dual role in award of scholarships at SUC. Firstly, it encourages bright students and their parents to fulfill their aspirations of quality higher education and simultaneously keeps the financial burden to a minimum. It gives them equal opportunity to compete in a wider field and succeed in life. And secondly, merit-based scholarships attract academically brilliant students to SUC. SUC takes pride in its education system that caters to international standards and an academically superior intake of students stimulates the challenge for better quality education.

The criterion for merit-based scholarships is high school grades, though this could be different in different board of studies, for example, UAE/Arab Board students with 85%-90% marks are a category for such an award.

The other category includes scholarships for continuing students on an annual basis. Based on the assessment of their academic records of the running year, the committee decides to award or to continue with such scholarships, as may be the case. 

Since SUC’s inception, how many scholarships have been awarded so far?

SUC was established in 1990 with a vision to impart knowledge, skills and values. Scholarships have been a part of its educational philosophy from the beginning. At SUC, we believe that imparting education is not only a service to students but a service to society at large.

A large number of aspirants carry the will to pursue higher education though, may lack resources. SUC realises this and has attempted to fulfill several such aspirations of young men and women. More than 1,000 students have been awarded scholarships under various categories mainly merit, financial need, sports, MOU-based scholarships with government, semi government, private, social clubs and associations, consulates and embassies and many more. 

How do you see the scholarship program fulfilling SUC’s CSR philosophy?

SUC is fully aware of its social responsibility and by offering scholarships to organisations, we are achieving several CSR objectives. To name a few, SUC scholarships encourage lifelong learning in people who may have lost the zeal to pursue higher education due to career and family constraints which also sap financial resources.

At SUC, we are attracting a large number of employed students who want to further their career with better qualifications. These scholarships help them achieve such ambitions. We have students who are mothers of young children but want to contribute to the family income by pursuing careers but lack in professional qualifications, SUC scholarships help them as well.

SUC attempts to make higher education available to as many students as possible. The scholarship schemes help SUC bridge the gap between deserving aspirants and higher education by reducing financial impediments that may come their way. 

What is your annual scholarship budget and how do you meet these requirements?

The scholarship budget has an incremental increase of 10% annually. The budget for the current year (2013-2014) is Dh35 million which is spread over 4 years. SUC does not depend of any grants and the scholarship fund is self generated under SUC’s CSR initiative. 

How have these scholarships incentivised deserving students?

Scholarships serve a dual purpose, one, they help students with good academic records pursue higher education and two, they help SUC attracts students with potential.

As a University College, we are also match makers for employers and suitable candidates. SUC maintains a robust relationship with industry wherein we take feedback for updating our curriculum and fulfill their requirements of worthy employees.

Financial incentives have time and again proven to be the best incentives. We believe it is the students and the program together that defines a university. Even those students who can afford higher education look for a competitive tuition fee and in the process, try to excel while studying at SUC. It also is a matter of pride for several students to be counted as meritorious and receiving scholarship.