In Malaysia, scholarships are offered to students who record excellent results in the main examination. In smaller cases, it is also offered to students from disadvantaged backgrounds to reduce the burden on guardians. But in the United States, the Franciscan University of Steubenville offers scholarships to students who promise not to use smartphones throughout their studies.
Unplugged Scholarship is the brainchild of a group of university alumni who want to restore the true relationship between students and God. As a religious university, students are only asked to focus on real relationships between other students, pray and draw closer to God as payment for the scholarship received.
A total of 30 students were selected in the pilot program which was launched in September last year. Even so, more than 50 campus students also vowed not to use smartphones despite not receiving a $5000 scholarship to cover tuition fees.
After receiving the scholarship, the university will not check if the student does not use a smartphone because it is an agreement between them and god. If a scholarship like this existed in Malaysia, would you be willing to not use a smartphone for the duration of your studies?