- First Mapletree Awards were given to three Real Estate Track students who have achieved excellent academic results as well as participated in Real Estate Study Trips and internships
SINGAPORE – Mapletree Investments (“Mapletree” or “the Group”) is pleased to announce the conferment of the first Mapletree Awards to three students from the Real Estate Track at Singapore Management University (“SMU”) last Thursday, 1 August 2019. The Mapletree Awards aim to identify undergraduate students from the Real Estate Track under the Lee Kong Chian School of Business and School of Economics (SMU) who have achieved good academic results as well as shown strong interest and aptitude in the areas of Real Estate Investments and Finance through participation in Real Estate Study Trips and internships.
The Mapletree Awards are part of the Mapletree-SMU Real Estate Programme established at SMU in January 2018 with an endowed donation from Mapletree. It is a multi-faceted Programme that aims to equip students with the necessary knowledge and cross-disciplinary skills to navigate the growing real estate sector in Singapore and globally. A maximum of five Mapletree Awards, valued at S$8,000 per award, could be given out annually to eligible students. More information on the SMU Real Estate Track can be found in the Appendix.
The two graduating students who have received the Awards at the annual SOE’s Commencement Ceremony were:
• Ms Michelle Ong Li Ya, who has participated in the Shanghai and Hangzhou Real Estate Study Trip (October 2018);
• Ms Shane Phung Li Ling, who has participated in the Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Real Estate Study Trip (May 2019).
Additionally, Mr Lau Chun Kit, who is a promising third-year student in the Real Estate Track and has participated in both Study Trips, will also receive the Mapletree Award for Academic Year (AY) 2018 –2019.
Ms Shane Phung shared that, “I started the Real Estate Track only in my Final Year thus receiving the first Mapletree Awards is an acknowledgement for my hard work. I feel excited for the future batches of students in this Track which has been very comprehensive and enriching. It will definitely open doors to career options in real estate investments, asset management, and valuations among others.”
Ms Michelle Ong echoed her fellow graduate’s views, “I am grateful for the Mapletree Award and more importantly for the exposure that the Real Estate Track has provided me. Despite being a relatively new Track, it offers a rigorous curriculum with a wide range of modules, and together with the Study Trips and internships, created a rewarding experience. With the real estate industry experiencing strong growth and expansion especially in Asia, I feel well-equipped to take on the challenges and opportunities ahead.”
Mr Hiew Yoon Khong, Mapletree Group Chief Executive Officer, said, “Education is one of the four key pillars of Mapletree’s corporate social responsibility programme. We hope that the Mapletree Awards will encourage more students to join the Real Estate Track, including to participate in local and overseas Study Trips as they strive for academic excellence and learning outside the classroom.”
The partnership between SMU and Mapletree dates back to 2013 with Mapletree Bursary awards for SMU students, and continues further with a second endowed gift of S$3 million to SMU in 2017. With 1:1 government matching, the total sum of S$6 million has enabled the launch of a multi-faceted partnership in January 2018 named the ‘Mapletree Real Estate Programme[1]’.
[1] Information about the Mapletree Real Estate Programme can be found in this press release: http://www.mapletree.com.sg/en/Media/News/2018/January/Mapletree%20Real%20Estate%20Programme.aspx
[2] More information on the inaugural Mapletree Annual Lecture can be found in this press release: http://www.mapletree.com.sg/en/Media/News/2018/November/Inaugural%20Mapletree%20Annual%20Lecture.aspx
Photos
(From L-R) Prof Francis Koh, Mapletree Professor of Real Estate and SMU Professor of Finance, Prof Hoon Hian Teck, Interim Dean, SMU School of Economics, Ms Shane Phung Li Ling, Mapletree Award AY18/19 recipient, Ms Michelle Ong Li Ya, Mapletree Award AY18/19 recipient, Mr Lau Chun Kit, Mapletree Award AY18/19 recipient and Mr Wan Kwong Weng, Group Chief Corporate Officer, Mapletree Investments
(From L-R) Prof Francis Koh, Mapletree Professor of Real Estate and SMU Professor of Finance, Prof Hoon Hian Teck, Interim Dean, SMU School of Economics, and Mr Wan Kwong Weng, Group Chief Corporate Officer, Mapletree Investments, presenting the Mapletree Award AY18/19 to Mr Lau Chun Kit (2nd from right)
