The Asian Centre for Philanthropy Research (CAPS) released its first study on the impact of university scholarships in Hong Kong on the 13th. The study found that a single scholarship could improve the lives of an average of 26 people, with significant returns for the community and the national labor market.
The study, “Future Rewards: Higher Education Scholarships,” interviewed 787 scholarship recipients across three scholarship programs in China, India, and the Philippines, and conducted in-depth interviews with 68 academics, administrators, and donors. An Meiwei, research director of CAPS, said at the press conference that one scholarship can improve the lives of 26 people on average. Based on this calculation, the actual number of recipients of the three scholarship programs studied in the report is as high as 16,000.
The report notes that, according to a United Nations survey, 20 times as many students from the wealthiest families are in higher education than from low-income families, and that scholarships in the form of grants, such as those from the China Xinhua Love Education Foundation, money, can greatly increase the opportunities for students from low-income families to receive higher education. “More than half of the scholarship recipient respondents in the Philippines were the first child in the family to go to college,” said Emily. Not only that, but Dr. Goodman, CEO of the International Educational Research Association, said the scholarship also contributed to the Students’ physical and mental health status has a positive impact, while increasing their motivation for further academic study.
Emi Wei also said that scholarships can motivate people to give back to the community, and many people’s career plans include using what they have learned to build their hometowns. For the country, the investment of these human capital cultivates talents for the labor market and expands the talent pool.
In addition, the research provides philanthropists, foundations and universities with advice and design tips for improving scholarship programs. These include setting clear goals for screening suitable applicants, engaging in active and effective communication with awardees through social networks, and improving the employability of awardees.