Eurokars Group Makes a $200,000 Donation to the Singapore University of Social Sciences

Eurokars Group has donated S$200,000 to the S R Nathan School of Human Development (NSHD) at the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS). The donation will go towards an endowment fund which will provide financial support to financially-disadvantaged part-time students from the Bachelor of Social Work programme.

Eurokars Group’s contribution to SUSS is complemented by a matching grant from the Singapore Government.

This contribution is in line with Eurokars Group’s belief in the power of education in enhancing the calibre and quality of the Singapore workforce, and propelling the productivity of the economy as a whole.

“Eurokars Group firmly believes that education is the vital key that unlocks opportunities in life and opens the doors to a bright future and promising career path. It is in this spirit that we have made this donation to the S R Nathan School of Human Development at the Singapore University of Social Sciences,” says Mr Karsono Kwee, Executive Chairman of Eurokars Group.

SUSS is the university of choice for approximately 15,000 full-time and part-time students each year, and it has a rich heritage in providing lifelong, learner-centric and industry-relevant education. To date, more than 30,000 graduates have benefitted from their broad range of undergraduate and graduate programmes, as well as continuing education and training modular courses that are designed to develop professional skills and industry knowledge.

NSHD, which is one of the schools at SUSS, was named after the late President S R Nathan as a tribute to recognise his enduring contributions to the social service sector and the labour movement in Singapore. It offers programmes that have a strong focus on achieving positive impact through the lifespan approach of nurturing the socio-cultural growth of individuals within the community. NSHD’s work has dedicated service at its heart, and this is manifested in disciplines such as Early Childhood Education, Counselling, Gerontology and Social Work.

Enable Good - S R Nathan School of Human Development (SUSS)

Commencing in July 2020, the annual returns from the investment of the donation from Eurokars Group will be used to provide stipends to up to 24 part-time students from the Bachelor of Social Work programme when they embark on their six months’ practicum or work placement. The stipend, valued at $500 each, can be used by the students for their daily living expenses during their practicum.

To ensure priority for those who need the support the most, recipients will be selected based on the following criterion:

• Students from households with a Per Capita Income of less than $2,250, or Gross Household Income of less than $9,000

“The practicum is a compulsory course that students have to undertake in order to graduate. But often times, students do not receive any remuneration during their practicum, and those who face financial difficulties may find the lack of income challenging. In providing the stipends, we hope to alleviate some of the students’ financial burdens, and thereby enable them to be more focused and excel in their practicum. The impact of the gift received from Eurokars Group is far-reaching as the stipends will be awarded, in perpetuity, to financially-disadvantaged students,” said Associate Professor Lim Lee Ching, Dean, NSHD.

Eurokars Group is a strong supporter and advocate of education as it forms a core pillar of the group’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme. Cumulatively, the group has contributed S$450,000 towards the endowment funds of two educational institutions in Singapore – Singapore Management University (SMU) and SUSS.

In 2017, Eurokars Group became the first automotive company in Singapore to establish an endowed scholarship at SMU. The Eurokars Group Endowed Scholarship aims to provide financial assistance to undergraduates with gross monthly household per capita income not exceeding SGD1,900 in order to enable them to achieve academic excellence. Eurokars Group’s total endowed contribution of SGD250,000 is complemented by a matching grant from the Singapore Government.

(Photos and video courtesy of Singapore University of Social Sciences)