Malaysian First Lady becomes AUW patron

FE Report Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor, First Lady of Malaysia, has joined the Council of Patrons of Asian University for Women (AUW), said a release Thursday. The First Lady's engagement as AUW patron paves the way for greater collaboration between AUW and institutions in Malaysia. She is expected to actively advocate for women's empowerment and education in general and the cause of the Asian University for Women in particular, said the release. "The First Lady will focus on AUW's outreach in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, and to this end, she will co-host with AUW chancellor Cherie Blair a major conference on women's education and empowerment that is being planned for the Spring of 2012 in Kuala Lumpur," it added. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is the Chief Patron of AUW welcomed the First Lady making commitment to closely work with her and all other patrons of AUW in advancing the cause of the university and that of the education and empowerment of women all over Asia and beyond. The release also said AUW will offer 10 fellowships named after Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor. Each fellowship will carry US$ 12,000 in scholarship. The First Lady's Office and AUW will collaborate to fund these fellowships. Previously similar fellowships were established in the name of chancellor Cherie Blair and former US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice who was a former patron of AUW. Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor is the wife of Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and a passionate champion for the education and empowerment of women and is involved in various academic, social, and labour organisations. Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor is the recipient of many prestigious awards.