Education

Education is the springboard from which individuals come closer to achieving their goals and the nation nears its vision of development and an improved quality of life for its people. This award recognises companies that have made serious efforts to improve the level of education and skills of their employees and members of the community.

The inaugural WINNER of the PM’s CSR Awards Education Category was Petronas’ Education Division. PETRONAS’ education programme is consistent with the National vision to create ‘towering Malaysians’ who can navigate the intricacies of a rapidily globalising world. In the past decade, PETRONAS has used its substantial financial resources to put in place a broad ranging programme called PETRONAS in Education.  This programme cuts across all sectors of the community through the company’s various institutions such as PETROsains, Petroleum Resource Centre, Education Sponsorship Unit (ESU), Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, PMTSB, PERMATA and Malaysian Maritime Academy (ALAM).

PETRONAS has managed to reach a wide cross section of the community through experiential learning, demonstration of best practices, teaching and inspiring students to excel. Over-arching all this is their emphasis on ethics, integrity and the nurturing of leaders.

There is clear evidence that the PETRONAS in Education programmes have been built to last. PETRONAS takes its CSR role and responsibility, putting millions of ringgit in time, effort and sustainability back into the community.  PETRONAS in Education is steered by a dedicated team of professionals and adequate funding is provided to establish separate companies and institutions for the different programmes. Outreach projects have also been undertaken to e

Maxis Communications Bhd and ECM Libra Avenue Bhd received honourable mentions.

Maxis is the nation’s biggest mobile phone service provider. The company launched its CSR initiative in 2002 and it is still ongoing. Its focus is on an education programme that leverages on communications technologies to create fresh learning experiences and bridge the digital divide.

By the end of 2007, Maxis training programmes had reached 2,436 teachers and 4,925 students with some RM15 million invested in the programme. This three-pronged programme focusses on education, ICT and youth.

Maxis staff are involved in several aspects of the programme. Experts are engaged for ‘core learning’ programmes and Maxis staff interface with the community in what they call ‘learning experiences’. The Maxis education programme fits in with national aspirations to promote exposure to ICT.

The Maxis bridging programmes are run both in East and West Malaysia.
Maxis’ education programme is a fine example of how corporations can use their core business and expertise to serve the community and create opportunities for learning.

ECM Libra Avenue Bhd is an investment banking group with offices in Malaysia and Labuan that provides corporations and individuals with a diversified range of financial products and services. The Group’s activities are conducted through five business divisions, namely Investment Banking, Treasury, Stockbroking, Fund Management and Principal Finance & Investments. ECM Libra has shown that being a new player does not stand in the way of partnering old established institutions in the community.

The company’s CSR initiatives are funded by a special foundation which was set up in 2004, the same year the group was established. The Foundation’s CSR projects have ranged from offering scholarships, upgrading school facilities, and establishing computer labs, upscaling vocational training facilities, supporting the organisation of workshops and seminars. Trustees of the ECM Libra foundation are involved in evaluation process for funding scholarships and other charitable and welfare work.

ECM is looking at building academic and technological excellence among Malaysian youth. This is consistent with the National strategy for early intervention to boost the quality of our human resources. Their ‘needs-based’ assistance philosophy has taken education welfare across ethnic and geographic boundaries, impacting communities across the nation.

The Prime Minister’s CSR Awards, launched by the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development in 2007, aims to recognise companies that have made a difference to the communities in which they operate through their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes. Download the Official Entry Form.