Tweet: #MasterCard partners @INCEIF to empower women in Islamic Finance with new scholarship program <http://news.mstr.cd/1M6s77J>
Singapore, 5 March 2015 – MasterCard and the International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance (INCEIF) today announced they are partnering to launch the MasterCard – INCEIF Scholarship for Women, aimed at boosting the pipeline of female talent in the Islamic finance sector.
This is a timely collaboration, given the growing importance of Islamic finance, especially in Southeast Asia. According to a report by Malaysia International Islamic Finance Centre, Islamic finance is now a USD$2 trillion industry. The increasing demand for Islamic financial products, also spells the need for more financial professionals who are well-versed in Islamic finance.
Signing ceremony between MasterCard and INCEIF.
As part of the three-year agreement, MasterCard will offer scholarships to two full-time female students pursuing INCEIF Master’s programmes for Islamic Finance – Masters in Islamic Finance Practice and MSc in Islamic Finance – each year. Students will be awarded scholarships based on their academic records, financial need and contribution to the community.
MasterCard will also offer the scholarship recipients a one-year contract to work with MasterCard, upon graduation. This will give the scholars a chance to gain invaluable industry experience, working at MasterCard’s offices in Malaysia, Singapore or Indonesia; all markets in which there is a burgeoning Islamic finance landscape.
As a strong proponent globally of women’s empowerment, MasterCard has had similar initiatives in collaboration with universities such as Singapore Management University (SMU) and Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD). The recently launched MasterCard Scholarship for Women at SUTD is awarded to female undergraduates pursuing an education in technology, while the MasterCard MBA Scholarship for Women at SMU which started in 2011 is awarded to full-time female MBA candidates studying at SMU. Both programmes aim to empower awardees, and support and develop them into academically outstanding and socially responsible women.
Dzalin Ayub, Chief Operations Officer, INCEIF said, “INCEIF would like to record our thanks and appreciation to MasterCard for considering our students for its scholarship campaign. As a university by the industry for the industry, it is heartening to have an industry player, one with such prestigious credentials, as a partner. We welcome any initiative to contribute towards developing human capital in this rapidly growing industry as there are various opportunities for all, women included. ”
Safdar Khan, group head, Islamic Payments, Southeast Asia; group country manager, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei, MasterCard said, “In recent years, MasterCard has collaborated with various Islamic financial institutions in the region including Tabung Haji, CrescentRating and Zilzar.com to introduce more of our innovative Shariah-compliant payments solutions. We’re constantly seeking new ways in which we can meet the growing needs of the Islamic finance market, and are excited to have the best and brightest working with us to deliver innovation to this exciting, fast-evolving segment.”
