For some students, the biggest hurdle to a university degree is not getting a place, it is being able to afford one. The AIA Penyala Harapan Scholarship Programme is helping ease that burden, giving more young Malaysians the space to focus on their studies and what comes next.
That support is expanding quickly. In less than a year, AIA PUBLIC Takaful Bhd has tripled the programme’s reach, increasing the number of recipients from 20 to 60 students with an additional RM3.2 million in commitments.
The expansion also brings Universiti Malaya (UM) on board as the programme’s latest institutional partner, alongside International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), which became its first partner when the programme was launched in October 2025.
The latest RM3.2 million commitment brings total scholarship funding to RM4.8 million, supporting 20 new scholars each at IIUM and UM while broadening the programme’s academic reach.
At IIUM, the scholarship supports students pursuing bachelor’s degrees in Islamic banking, Islamic finance and law. The programme’s reach now extends further with UM, covering disciplines including actuarial science, computer science, economics, accounting, finance, medicine, surgery, nursing science and business administration.
For AIA PUBLIC Takaful Chief Executive Officer Mohd Asri Omar, the expansion reflects the company’s role not only as a takaful operator, but also as a source of support for the next generation of talent who will contribute to the future of the industry and wider society.
“When we launched the programme in October 2025, we committed RM1.6 million to support 20 first-year students in Islamic banking, Islamic finance and law.
“Building on the first cohort, we extended that commitment to another 20 students. With UM now joining the programme, we can reach students from a wider range of disciplines and backgrounds.
“We hope that one day, these students will give back to society and become an inspiration to the next generation.”
Giving back through takaful, making every contribution count
The expansion of the scholarship programme is supported by a broader mechanism within AIA PUBLIC Takaful’s unique product proposition, which allows certificate holders to voluntarily contribute their takaful surplus towards charitable causes through the AIA Penyala Harapan Charity Fund.
Mohd Asri said the contribution was entirely voluntary, with participants retaining the choice of whether to take part.
“At its heart, takaful is about mutual assistance, bringing participants together to support one another while giving individuals the flexibility to make choices that best suit their needs.”
For AIA PUBLIC Takaful, the initiative provides an avenue for participants to extend the value of their takaful participation beyond protection, with surplus contributions supporting programmes that benefit the wider community.
Mohd Asri said greater awareness of the mechanism could help deepen public understanding of takaful and its potential social impact.
“With stronger efforts, particularly through our life planners as effective intermediaries, we can communicate more widely the importance of takaful protection, as well as the opportunity to channel surplus towards helping communities.
“This will help raise awareness that takaful is not only about protecting participants and their dependents, but can also be a platform for creating a positive impact in society.
“As more participants choose to contribute, we hope to expand the scale of the scholarship programme further.”
The company’s life planners play an important role in communicating the programme and helping participants understand how their voluntary contributions can support wider community initiatives.
Mohd Asri said the selection of strategic university partners was also guided by a shared vision of developing talent and creating opportunities for young Malaysians to pursue higher education.
Professor Dr Hasniza Zaman Huri, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic and International) of UM, said the university was honoured to join the AIA Penyala Harapan Scholarship Programme in a shared commitment to expanding access to quality education for aspiring Malaysian students.
“As a university committed to nurturing future talent, we believe every student with the potential to succeed should have the opportunity to pursue their ambitions, regardless of their financial circumstances.
“This initiative complements UM’s efforts to develop well-rounded graduates who are not only academically accomplished, but also equipped with the critical thinking, adaptability and values needed to navigate an increasingly complex world.
“We are pleased to partner with AIA PUBLIC Takaful in giving deserving students the opportunity to pursue their aspirations with greater confidence and determination, while helping them build a future in which they can contribute meaningfully to society and the nation.”
Scholarship support eases costs, brings peace of mind
For Sarah Amalia Mohd Sahid, 20, the value of the scholarship is tangible.
The second-year Islamic Finance student at IIUM said the financial support has helped ease the cost of university life, allowing her to focus more fully on her studies.
“I am very grateful for the opportunity to become an AIA Penyala Harapan Scholar. The scholarship helps cover my tuition fees and daily expenses, so I do not have to place too much financial pressure on my parents.
“At the same time, I feel more motivated to work hard and prove myself because AIA has placed its trust in me,” she said.
Sarah, who is from Bagan Serai, Perak, and the eldest of three siblings, first learned about the scholarship through announcements shared in student WhatsApp groups.
She was particularly drawn to the programme because of its focus on Islamic Finance, which aligned with her own field of study.
“I have always been interested in Islamic Finance, so when I saw this opportunity, I felt it was a good fit for me,” she said.
After completing her degree, Sarah hopes to build a career in banking or with a multinational company.
For fellow IIUM Islamic Finance student Muhammad Salihin Hakkim Mohamed, 21, the scholarship came after several previous attempts to secure education funding had been unsuccessful.
Salihin, whose father runs a modest small business while his mother works at a bank front desk, said he had initially assumed his scholarship application was unsuccessful after waiting around three months for a response.
“I was quite surprised because I thought my application had not been successful this time either.
“After waiting for about three months, I suddenly received an email from AIA PUBLIC Takaful informing me that I had been awarded the scholarship,” he said.
The eldest of four siblings hopes to build a career in banking or investment, while keeping open the possibility of starting his own business.
AIA Penyala Harapan expands its reach to more students and disciplines
The addition of UM gives the programme a broader reach, allowing AIA PUBLIC Takaful to support students pursuing fields beyond those traditionally associated with its Islamic finance roots.
Recipients are selected based on a combination of academic performance, financial need and clear future aspirations. The respective university sponsorship and scholarship centres or units play an important role in assessing and shortlisting candidates.
Through the programme, recipients receive financial assistance covering tuition fees and living expenses for up to four years of study.
For AIA PUBLIC Takaful, the expansion represents an opportunity to reach more students while supporting talent across a wider range of disciplines.
For students, the impact is more immediate with greater financial support, more room to focus on their studies, and an opportunity to work toward the careers they hope to build.
Eligible students who have received offers to pursue the specified bachelor’s degree programmes at IIUM and UM can apply through their respective university sponsorship and scholarship centres or units.
Find out more about the programme and application details via AIA’s official website
