[8 July 2009]
BW Maritime Scholarship established for SMU MBA to boost talent for the energy sector

Seven scholarships will be awarded over four years to deserving students

Singapore, 8 July 2009 – The energy sector continues to be a key pillar for the global economy, and will require significant talent to meet future challenges such as delivering sufficient energy to world markets. To this end, global oil and gas shipping firm BW Maritime is making a gift of S$100,000 to the Singapore Management University to fund seven scholarships. All of the scholarships are bond-free.

The BW Maritime Scholarship is targeted at SMU MBA students with experience and/or interest in the energy sector. “We would like the scholarships to help students who will in future contribute to this vital industry,” says BW Maritime's Senior Vice President of HR and Co mmunications Ms Rebekah France.“ SMU seemed the right place to establish these scholarships given the calibre of its faculty and students, its fresh approach to the MBA programme, and its focus on energy as one of the key sectors for the future.”

The first scholarship will be awarded to a student from this year's incoming batch. The Flex-time programme begins in September 2009 while the Full-time programme commences in January 2010.

These are the scholarship eligibility criteria:

? Full-time or Flex-time students of any nationality pursuing the SMU MBA
? Solid academic achievement
? Special consideration for those with demonstrated financial need
? Strong leadership skills and outstanding character
? Keen sectoral interest in the maritime/shipping/oil and gas production industry

“SMU is happy to add BW Maritime to the list of global companies whose goals in education are aligned with our mission. The desire to develop talents for the energy sector dovetails with one of the unique features of the SMU MBA which offers students insights into growing and important sectors,” says Interim Dean of the SMU Lee Kong Chian School of Business, Professor Lim Kian Guan. “Furthermore, to receive such a generous show of support in these times is certainly heartening,” he adds.

A unique aspect of the SMU MBA, Sector Focuses – Family Business and Entrepreneurship, Finance, Energy, and Technology – is included in the programme to provide participants with a broader knowledge of these areas. They are incorporated into the SMU MBA not only in the classroom, but through company visits and industry exposure opportunities offered throughout the year. Through this, graduates develop a deeper understanding of these growing and important sectors and their impact on an increasingly global market.

The SMU MBA was launched in January 2008 with the commitment to provide a different type of MBA in Asia – a holistic, interdisciplinary master's degree in general management that prepares participants for a career of growing responsibilities across many industries. Its unconventional curriculum emphasises management and leadership training, a highly valued area of expertise expected of mid- and senior-level managers that is much sought after by CEOs.

The MBA programme will be holding its next information session on Wednesday, 22 nd July. The application deadline for the Full-time class starting in January 2010 is Saturday, August 1st. Applications have closed for the Flex-time programme scheduled to start this September.

About BW Maritime

BW Maritime is a subsidiary of the BW Group, which is one of the world's leading maritime groups involved in offshore oil and gas production and transportation. Through its predecessor companies, Bergesen and World-Wide Shipping, the BW Group has been delivering energy and other vital commodities for more than 70 years. The BW shipping fleet includes crude oil supertankers, refined oil tankers, LNG and LPG carriers. www.bwshipping.com