Chen Zhi Scholarship

As Prince Foundation’s flagship project, the Chen Zhi Scholarship is an annual scholarship scheme in conjunction with Cambodia’s Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport that offers full scholarships, stipends, internship and work opportunities to 400 Cambodian university students over a period of seven years. Prince Group together with MoEYS ensure students get financial support, training, mentoring and work opportunities to bolster learning in three areas: sustainable development of the real estate sector; advancing financial inclusion and the digital economy in the banking and finance industries, and the promotion of world class hospitality standards, meeting the future human capital needs of the local economy.

The scholarship program is a progressive initiative under the leadership of philanthropist Chen Zhi, Chairman of Prince Holding Group, in collaboration with MoEYS. The recipients will be pursuing their education goals through reduced barriers and difficulties such as financial challenges in their academic journey. Every year, the scholarship fortunes to 100 young Cambodians to amplify their potential resources to ensure the sustainability of Cambodia’s major sectors such as flourishing construction in the real estate sector, advancing financial inclusion and the digital economy in the banking and finance industries, and helping to promote world-class hospitality standards meeting the future human capital needs of the local economy. In addition, this will open doors for Cambodia to raise its standard competitively in the international arena.

“We were excited to receive more than 1,500 applications submitted over three months for the inaugural batch of Chen Zhi Scholarship,” said Cliff Koh, Director, and Secretary-General of Prince Holding Group. “We have now finalised a hundred top achievers across Cambodia in hopes of ensuring more talents receive a solid foundation in pursuing their dreams, to build a better future for Cambodia.”

This is the first-ever large-scale scholarship offered by Prince Foundation seeking to incentivise young Cambodians since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The selection process was led by MoEYS with full support from Prince Foundation members. At the beginning of February, more than 200 applicants who performed well in their baccalaureate examinations were shortlisted and interviewed. The scholarship will offer full fees and stipends for students pursuing Bachelor’s degrees at top Cambodian universities, including Royal University of Phnom Penh, National University of Management, and Institute of Technology of Cambodia.

Prince Group is working to ensure the scholarship works towards achieving the goals outlined in the Education Strategic Plan (2019-2023) that has been designed to implement much-needed education, youth, and sports reforms.

“With this scholarship program, we hope to play a part to improve and elevate the education level as well as through other CSR initiatives and thought leadership activities planned out this year. We seek to empower the 100 scholars further with various work and learning opportunities should they choose to work with us,” added Cliff.

Selected students will be able to pursue their Bachelor of Science degrees at top Cambodian universities including Royal University of Phnom Penh, National University of Management, and Institute of Technology of Cambodia.

The Chen Zhi Scholarship seeks to provide both academic and practical experience for the students, by providing both a first-rate education and exposure to an international working experience. Scholarship students will be offered internships placements, where they will learn from top professionals in Cambodia – Prince Group, which oversees more than 80 businesses, possesses a diverse workforce with 20% of employees hailing from places like Singapore, Malaysia and Greater China.

The scholarship is spearheaded by Neak Oknha Chen Zhi, Chairman of Prince Group, who was recently recognized as the Entrepreneur of the Year among leaders of conglomerates at the 2021 International Business Awards, due to his business and corporate social responsibility leadership over the course of the pandemic.