Three Southeast Asian Students Receive Inaugural SIM STARRR Award in Singapore

SINGAPORE, July 31, 2025 — The Singapore Institute of Management (SIM), one of Southeast Asia’s leading private education institutions, has presented its first-ever SIM STARRR Award to three undergraduates from Indonesia and Malaysia, during its annual Scholarship Award Ceremony held today in Singapore.

The SIM STARRR Award — which stands for Resilience, Resourcefulness, and Responsibility — recognizes students who embody these core values, alongside academic excellence and leadership capabilities. Over 60 applicants from more than 10 countries applied for the merit-based award, which is part of the SIM Impact Fund launched in 2024 to mark the institute’s 60th anniversary.

The inaugural recipients include Mr Bryan Syalom Hermawan and Ms Ernita Jocelyne Tanudjaja, both from Indonesia, and Ms Chow Kah Ying, a nurse from Malaysia.

“The SIM STARRR Award reflects our belief that academic excellence must go together with the strength of character,” said Professor Wei Kwok Kee, President and CEO of SIM. “Through this award and the SIM Impact Fund, we are living out SIM’s purpose — to maximise potential and expand access to flexible, meaningful learning pathways.”

Empowering Through Adversity

Bryan Hermawan, a first-year International Business student at SIM-University of Birmingham, was recognised for his commitment to social empowerment in Indonesia, particularly in promoting financial literacy among rural youth. His innovative, sponsor-backed community projects demonstrated both leadership and empathy.

Meanwhile, Ernita Jocelyne Tanudjaja, a first-year Business student at SIM-RMIT University, was honoured for her quiet perseverance and leadership. Moving alone to Singapore after high school, Ernita overcame emotional and logistical challenges to lead successful student initiatives, including reviving a Model United Nations conference.

Chow Kah Ying, currently pursuing a post-registration Bachelor of Nursing at SIM-University of Sydney, impressed the panel with her resilience and responsibility as an ICU nurse. She was praised for managing critical cases with calm composure and supporting her peers while continuing her academic journey.

Comprehensive Support with No Bond

The SIM STARRR Award covers tuition fees (up to S$36,000), living expenses (S$6,500), and includes additional allowances for accommodation, airfare, and a laptop. Notably, the scholarship carries no bond, underlining SIM’s commitment to empowering learners without constraints.

The STARRR Award is part of the S$60 million SIM Impact Fund, which supports scholarships, bursaries, overseas experiences, and initiatives that drive community impact.

In addition to the STARRR Award, 36 other scholarships were awarded during the ceremony, including those for diploma and undergraduate scholars, student leaders, and recipients of the Sports & Artistic Talent Awards — reflecting SIM’s holistic recognition of academic and extracurricular excellence.

With over 140 programmes in partnership with 12 leading global universities, SIM continues to position itself as a key education hub in the region, offering pathways that blend academic rigour with real-world relevance.