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The Aspiration Foundation has pledged a HK$10 million donation to the LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong (HKUMed) for supporting the Faculty’s Second Chance scheme, which henceforth will be named the “Aspiration Foundation Second Chance Scholarship” (the Scholarship). The Scholarship will support Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) undergraduates on the basis of financial need and academic merit.

The Second Chance scheme, as the name denotes, is sympathetic to those who show a deep, sustained and demonstrable conviction to become humane medical practitioners, despite setbacks and detours in their earlier professional and academic journeys. The Scholarship correspondingly will support MBBS students who have demonstrated extraordinary resilience to make a mature but never too late entry to the healthcare profession.

A donation ceremony was held today (May 30) at HKUMed. Professor Gabriel Leung, Dean of Medicine, welcomed and thanked the donor, the Aspiration Foundation. Professor Gilberto Leung, Associate Dean (Teaching & Learning), who will recommend scholarship recipients, also thanked the Aspiration Foundation for their generous support to HKUMed.

The Aspiration Foundation Second Chance Scholarship scheme will commence in September 2019 for a period of nine years, supporting a total of five cohorts of students. It is expected that not less than 60 “Aspiration Scholars” (that is, 12 students per year) will benefit from this scheme. The Scholarship will cover the full tuition and accommodation for an undergraduate student, and is renewable subject to satisfactory academic performance.

Professor Gabriel Leung remarked, “Enthusiasm for reading medicine, the spirit of discovery and a resolve to never give up are exactly the outlook that a benevolent doctor needs to practise medicine with compassion and commitment. Transformative difficulties and changes in life paths spur growth and spark a caring mindset, which will benefit both patients and the wider community, no matter which branch of medicine Aspiration Scholarship recipients go on to practise.”

Mr Yim, the representative of the Aspiration Foundation, is glad that the Second Chance Scholarship matches with the aim of the Aspiration Foundation. He said, “We are pleased that the Scholarship will support students who recognise in themselves a calling to medicine, and who have the experience and resilience to grasp change and persevere to become dedicated medical professionals.”

Aspiration Foundation is founded and supported by the Yim’s Trust. Foundation aims to direct people’s hope towards achieving a better future through the advancement of education, research on medical and healthcare development, and safeguarding of the environment. HKUMed started to provide scholarships for Second Chance students in 2016/17 and 37 students have benefited so far.

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