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Nurturing young minds and creating a safe space for them is crucial, and that starts with shaping and supporting early childhood educators.
Many aspiring educators possess the passion, but lack the qualification to upskill in their career. The Hey & Seeds Early Childhood Education Scholarship was created to bridge this gap–providing financial assistance, structured training and employment opportunities for individuals to upskill, gain professional credentials, and contribute meaningfully to the early childhood sector.
The Memorandum of Signing (MoU) between Hey Education Sdn. Bhd, Seeds Educare Sdn. Bhd (also known as Himawari) and SEGi University on the 22nd of November 2025 marked not just the launch of the scholarship, but also the start of a lifetime collaboration of uplifting educators.
A Long-Term Commitment to the Future of Early Childhood Education
During her opening speech, founder and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Seeds Educare Ms Xena Juan expressed that Hey & Seeds Early Childhood Education Scholarship is more than just a scholarship, it is a long-term commitment to the early childhood education sector.
“When we invest in educators, we invest in children—and when we invest in children, we invest in the future,” said Ms Xena.
This sentiment reflects a commitment to long-term educational development, ensuring that every child is supported by educators who are qualified, confident, and capable of guiding them through their early years.
Echoing this vision, founder of HEY Education, Ms Raine Heiw, highlighted their shared mission.
“Our core mission has always been clear: to nurture children who are independent, confident, and lifelong learners. But we have always asked ourselves: how can we help cultivate the next generation of educators who will carry this torch?
“Through this scholarship, we are offering a future—a supported journey to become the kind of educator who can inspire independence and confidence in a child,” said Ms Raine.
Study-While-Working Model with Service Bond
In line with a sustainable talent development approach, the scholarship adopts a study-while-working model.
Recipients will pursue their studies at SEGi while simultaneously gaining hands-on experience at Hey or Seeds centres. This allows students to apply academic knowledge directly within the classroom environment, contributing to day-to-day operations and developing practical teaching skills.
Upon completing the programme, scholars are required to fulfil a two-year service bond, during which they will continue contributing to the centres. After the bond period, recipients may remain at the centres or explore other roles within the early childhood education field.
This system not only supports students financially but also helps the centres build a consistent and skilled pipeline of qualified Early Childhood Education (ECE) professionals, creating a long-term, mutually beneficial development cycle.
SEGi’s Programme Quality Recognised by Industry Partners
Ms Raine and Ms Xena shared that before establishing the scholarship, they conducted a thorough review of SEGi’s Early Childhood Education programme. They expressed confidence in SEGi’s academic quality and its ability to produce competent professionals.
With seven teachers from their centres successfully graduated, SEGi has once again demonstrated strong employability outcomes. Many of these graduates have become key educators and even taken on leadership roles, contributing significantly to the delivery of quality early childhood education for the next generation.
A Milestone Collaboration to Strengthen the Education Workforce
The ceremony coincided with a meaningful milestone–the graduation of seven teachers from Hey Education and Seeds Educare who completed SEGi’s Diploma and Degree programmes in Early Childhood Education on 22 November 2025.
Himawari Preschool’s assistant principal, Ms Chia Chiew Ha, was one of the few staff from Seeds Educare who graduated from the programme.
Despite being the most senior among the graduates, Ms Chia embraced the motto of ‘learning is a lifelong endeavour’, persevering through challenges such as language barrier and technology during her studies.
“It was not an easy journey, but my goal was to graduate from the programme no matter what, so I pushed through alongside other staff members from Himawari who are also taking the programme. We support each other through our learning process,”
“A heartfelt thank you to Ms Xena for introducing this course to me and guiding me throughout my studies so that I can fulfil my passion to keep growing and developing myself as an educator,” she said.
Ms Chin Wan Yee from HEY Education carried the sentiment, expressing her gratitude towards Ms Raine and the team at HEY Education.
“Their support and guidance eased the learning journey, and I’m really grateful because now I can upskill in my career as an educator,” she said.
Eight Scholarship Seats Now Open for 2026 Intake
A total of eight scholarship seats has been allocated for the 2026 intake under the Hey & Seeds Early Childhood Education Scholarship. Of these, Hey Education will sponsor six recipients, while Seeds Educare will support two.
The scholarship is open to students enrolling in SEGi University’s Diploma in Early Childhood Education (Online Distance Learning-ODL) programme. Each successful applicant will receive RM7,000 per year, amounting to RM14,000 across the two-year study duration.
Application and Selection Process
Uni Enrol Sdn. Bhd has been appointed as the official platform to manage scholarship applications and coordinate the screening process. Applicants must submit their forms through the Uni Enrol portal, after which eligibility checks will be conducted.
Shortlisted candidates will undergo an interview with representatives from Hey Education or Seeds Educare. Depending on location, some applicants may be required to attend interviews in person.
Final selection decisions rest solely with the scholarship providers. All recipients must complete the two-year service bond upon graduation.
For more information, contact us or visit https://unienrol.com/scholarships/details/709042/segi-hey-seeds-early-childhood-education-scholarship-diploma
