Grab Scholar scholarship injects the spirit of Alia Sopiana to pursue her dreams

PETALING JAYA, 14 Oct: The experience of working part-time to cover tuition expenses became a memory for University of Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) student Alia Sopiana Dundang, 20, when her dream of getting a scholarship was finally realized.

Serian's daughter, Sarawak was among the six recipients of GrabScholar Scholarship as a result of Grab Malaysia's partnership with Tunku Abdul Rahman Foundation (YTAR).

She, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Computer Science (Data Engineering), said the scholarship eases her family's financial burden and allows her to focus on her studies.

"I feel relieved that I had to work part-time to cover expenses.

"Now, I'm not working part-time anymore and can help my mom at home while studying online", she told TVS at the GrabScholar Scholarship Awards ceremony here today.

He said that the scholarship not only provides financial assistance, but also opens up opportunities to build leadership skills and expand networks through YTAR's sponsorship program.

He's now in his third semester telling me that his interest in technology started at Level One after seeing his friends code to participate in a tech-related competition.

"That experience led me to delve deeper into the field before choosing Data Engineering, which gives exposure to coding and data management", he said.

Recognizing that the field is challenging, especially due to the development of programming languages, Alia Sopiana said gender factors should not prevent women from venturing into the field of technology.

He hoped his success could inspire the community in his hometown to continue pursuing higher education despite facing financial constraints or family problems.

Meanwhile, Grab Malaysia Executive Director Rashid Shukor said that the GrabScholar program which is entering its third year of implementation with YTAR aims to expand access to higher education for Grab's drivers and conveyors, their families and communities.

He hopes that this year's six scholarship recipients will seize the opportunity to realize their aspirations and contribute back to society. -The TVs.