Aus: Curtin launches ‘Meng Fei’ scholarships

Published 09/04/2019

Australia’s love affair with Chinese dating show If You Are the One has led to Perth-based Curtin University naming a scholarship program in honour of its host, Meng Fei.

The Meng Fei Innovation Future Leader Scholarships, unveiled during the television celebrity’s recent trip to Perth, seek to attract high-performing international students to the Western Australian HEI, as the state looks to double its overseas student numbers.

The focus of the funding will be to encourage business intelligence and entrepreneurial skills, as well as free English language assistance.

“The scholarships will inspire students to follow in this leading entrepreneur’s footsteps”

“This scholarship aims to support the future innovators from around the globe to broaden their horizons and take up an incredible opportunity to study in Perth at Curtin University,” Fei said.

“I would encourage any students with innovative leadership qualities and ambitious plans to make their mark in the community to apply for the scholarship.”

Titled Fei Cheng Wu Rao in China, the show sees male candidates attempt to ‘win’ a date with a panel of women through revealing and often humorous videos. If one panellist is uninterested, she can turn off her light.

If You Are the One has gained a substantial cult following in Australia, with English subtitled episodes shown on SBS Viceland and attracting a weekly viewership reportedly in excess of 200,000.

Watched by up to 50m people in China each week, the show aired two specials with Australian contestants in 2016.

Curtin vice-chancellor Deborah Terry said the scholarships recognised the success of Meng Fei, who started his career as a printing assistant, before becoming a cameraman and later journalist.

“These scholarships offer a rare opportunity to the brightest international students to study in Australia at Curtin University,” she said.

“Named after one of China’s greatest success stories… the scholarships will aim to inspire academically gifted students to follow in this leading entrepreneur’s footsteps.”

The program will provide three scholarships of $10,000 to cover high performing international students’ academic and accommodation costs, as well as 10-weeks free intensive English.

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