Australian Financial Times: Chinese billionaire Ma Yun, founder of Alibaba, donated A $26 million to Newcastle University in memory of his mentor Ken Morley
Ma Yun, founder of China's leading ecommerce company Alibaba, went to Newcastle University on the central coast of Xinzhou on Friday.
He came here to attend the donation ceremony, donating $20 million to Newcastle University in memory of his mentor, Ken Morley., of Newcastle.
Ken Morley helped Ma when he was destitute and is now China's richest businessman with a fortune of $28 billion.
The money will become a scholarship fund at Newcastle University to commemorate Ken Morley..
Ken Morley met Ma Yun, 15, when he visited West Lake Hangzhou, China, in 1980.
Ken Morley was an electrical engineer who became a good friend, Mr. Ma's English teacher and his mentor.
Ma Yun is the founder and chairman of Alibaba, China's largest e-commerce company.
Alibaba's business traffic is 1/4 of global e-commerce traffic.
This time, he said, the donation to Newcastle University was intended to commemorate my long-standing friendship with the Morley family.
Ken Morley, who returned to his country in 1980, has been in love with Mr. Ma and has continued to communicate with him and guide his English.
In 1985, Ken Morley also invited Ma to Sydney, his first trip abroad.
He spent nearly a month at Newcastle's in Ken Morley.
Jack Ma later said that this month in Newcastle completely changed me and my destiny.
'I am very grateful to the people of Australia and to the people of Australia,'he said.'in my youth, I came to a wonderful country and had a very good time.
In Australia, I am exposed to a completely different culture, landscape.
And most importantly, this trip to Australia had a profound impact on my view of the world at that time.
Ma's A $26 million donation will be used to first fund scholarships for 30 students to study at Newcastle University.
The plan will begin in 2018 for the new school year.
Of these, 20 will be awarded to students at Newcastle University for their degrees, and between $10 and $15,000 a year will be awarded to those students.
Another 10 students will be funded to exchange student programs overseas.
Professor Caroline McMillen, President of Newcastle University, is very grateful to Jack Ma for his donation to the University.
She said it was also possible for the 10 students to go to Chinese universities for exchange studies and go to Ma Yun's Alibaba Company for an internship.
She said the scholarship would focus on caring for smart poor students and indigenous students living below the poverty line.
By the time the fund is fully operational, the donation will fund 90 students to pursue degrees at Newcastle University.
Ma said he hopes the fund will inspire, educate and nurture future leaders.
Alibaba is a business created by young people and we are committed to promoting and empowering students so that they can realize their dreams and aspirations, he said.
The donation was attended today by the governor of the new state, the director of education and the descendants of Ken Morley.
He died ten years ago.
His son, David, came to attend the donation.
David Morley is now a yoga teacher at Newcastle.
Jack Ma and David Morley met and became friends in Hangzhou as early as 1980.
David Morley said the Morley family was pleased to see Mr. Ma respecting their father's egalitarian values.
Ken Morley is a communist sympathizer.
Ironically, his friendship with Mr. Ma helped him build one of the world's largest e-commerce companies.
David said his father would be very proud of Jack Ma's commitment to help and fund students in his hometown.
I am also very moved, my father and Jack Ma's close friendship led to the establishment of this scholarship fund.
The full name of this scholarship is
Ma and Morley Scholarship Program
On Saturday, Jack Ma will travel to Melbourne to cut the ribbon for his Alibaba in central Australia.
Alibaba also opened their cloud data center in Sydney last year.
Alibaba hopes in 4 years, can catch up with the United States Amazon cloud service.
