THP FBF academics awarded prestigious Cornell–UN Tourism Scholarship

Two academics from the Teh Hong Piow Faculty of Business and Finance (THP FBF), UTAR, have been awarded a full scholarship from Cornell University and UN Tourism and successfully completed the Sustainable Tourism Destination Management Certification offered by Cornell University.

The recipients are Dr Anthony Tee Mooi Kwong and Cik Nur Aliah binti Mansor, both from the Department of Marketing. The highly competitive scholarship covered the full course fee of USD699 (approximately RM3,000), with only 350 recipients selected worldwide each year.

The eight-week (40-hour) programme, delivered via eCornell, is part of Cornell’s Sustainable Tourism Asset Management Program (STAMP) and was developed in collaboration with international organisations including Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and The Travel Foundation. Dr Anthony Tee completed the programme from 1 September to 31 October 2025, while Cik Nur Aliah completed it from 1 August to 30 September 2025.

Reflecting on the achievement, Dr Anthony Tee, who specialises in Tourism Development, Policy and Planning, said, “Receiving this full scholarship from Cornell University and UN Tourism is a significant honour. The programme goes beyond theory by offering innovative, data-driven approaches and practical tools drawn from global best practices.” He added that the certification directly complements his academic role at UTAR. “The knowledge gained allows me to integrate structured global frameworks into my teaching and research, ensuring our students are equipped with contemporary and industry-relevant skills in sustainable tourism planning.”

Cik Nur Aliah, who specialises in Tourism Destination Marketing, highlighted the global standing of the programme. “Cornell University and UN Tourism represent excellence in tourism education and global governance. Being awarded this scholarship and certification is a meaningful recognition of academic and professional commitment to sustainable tourism,” she said. She further noted that the programme strengthened her understanding of sustainable destination planning, climate action strategies, and community engagement. “The insights gained are especially relevant to tourism development initiatives at UTAR Kampar Campus and can be directly applied in my teaching of tourism and environmental courses,” she added.

As part of the scholarship selection process, both academics submitted proposals focused on sustainable tourism development in Malaysia. Dr Anthony Tee’s work centred on sustainable destination management frameworks, while Cik Nur Aliah’s proposal explored the potential of university campuses as sports tourism attractions, promoting wellness, conservation, and stronger university–community engagement.

The achievement reflects UTAR’s continued commitment to quality education, sustainability, and global engagement, and aligns with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Quality Education, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Sustainable Cities and Communities, and Climate Action.