AUSTRALIA and Malaysia share a strong and enduring bilateral relationship that has seen more than 250,000 Malaysian students Down Under.

A significant number of these students were granted Australian Government Scholarships to study in Australian schools, universities and vocational training institutions.

To pay tribute to these students, Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia Penny Williams launched a publication called Endeavours of Excellence: Over 50 years of Australian Scholarships.

It outlines the experiences of Malaysian scholars during their time in Australia as well as their contributions towards developing Malaysia.

"It is really a walk down memory lane complete with photographs and narratives. It is a story of how two nations have come together in a spirit of mutual trust, goodwill and cooperation for a brighter future," says Williams, adding that education has formed the bedrock of the bilateral relationship between Australia and Malaysia.
"The education relationship and resulting personal networks have contributed to the strong ties between our two countries at every possible level," she says. The individuals featured in this book are representatives of the exceptional calibre of Malaysian scholars.

"They formed friendships that went beyond geographical and cultural boundaries and have contributed to better understanding between Australia and Malaysia."

Since 1951, more than 4,000 Malaysians have received Australian scholarships to study in its institutions of higher learning.