In a bold move to strengthen Malaysia’s retail workforce, the Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA) has launched the MRCA Academy Scholarship 2025, offering 100 fully funded scholarships to full-time employees of MRCA member companies.
In partnership with Sunway University, London Examinations Board, Perbadanan Nasional Berhad (PERNAS), and INTI International University & Colleges, MRCA ensures each scholarship leads to industry-recognised qualifications. Each scholarship grants recipients access to industry-recognised qualifications designed to meet the practical demands of Malaysia’s retail and food & beverage sectors.
Available courses include:
- Micro-Credential in Retail Marketing
- Micro-Credential in F&B Management
- Executive Diploma in Retail Management
- Executive Diploma in Franchise Operation
These programmes aim to equip participants with relevant skills and leadership capabilities, empowering them to drive growth and innovation within their companies.
“This initiative reflects MRCA’s deep commitment to nurturing talent in the retail and franchise sectors. We believe in empowering our workforce with practical skills and recognised qualifications that fuel both individual and industry growth,” said MRCA President Datuk Dr Ken Phua.
Fuelled by Charity, Focused on Impact
The MRCA Academy Scholarship is funded by proceeds from the MRCA Chinese New Year Gala Dinner 2025, which raised RM348,076 through auction activities. This transformation of festive celebrations into impactful upskilling opportunities showcases the MRCA Branding Education Charity Foundation’s mission to give back through education.
The association didn’t stop there. It also contributed RM10,000 in direct financial aid to two deserving students:
- Lee Chun Ket (Brayan) – pursuing a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery
- Meekesh Rueban A/L Nagayah – pursuing a Diploma in Interior Design
Moreover, MRCA allocated another RM10,000 to support four charitable organisations. Each received RM2,500:
- Pertubuhan Kebajikan Rumah Warga Emas Gemilang
- Rumah Kasih
- Pertubuhan Pendidikan Anak-Anak Yatim Selangor (Rumah Bakti Dato’ Harun)
- Hospis Malaysia
These contributions came from funds raised during the MRCA Charity Golf 2025, held at Bangi Golf Resort.
A Platform for Retail Excellence
MRCA announced the scholarship programme during its bi-monthly Members’ Meeting, which gathered over 100 stakeholders. Among the notable guests was Encik Mohd Amirul Rizal Abdul Rahim, Senior Director at Tourism Malaysia and Head of the Visit Malaysia 2026 Secretariat.
With this initiative, MRCA continues to push for a skilled and future-ready retail workforce. By aligning education, charity, and industry needs, the association builds a platform for sustainable growth across Malaysia’s retail sector.
