Passang Dema is the first woman in her family to attend university. Her financially struggling family members were more than happy when she was accepted at the Asian University for Women (AUW) with a full scholarship. Faraway from Bhutan at AUW, Passang was exposed to a multi-cultural environment here, which initially was a challenge for her to communicate effectively with her fellow students on campus coming from 14 other countries across Asia.

However, after four months at AUW, Passang is now confident enough to take full advantage of the resources available to her, and to use them to take her education forward. Passang intends to major in Public Health; she is concerned about the health issues in remote areas of Bhutan, and wants to find solutions to solve them. She is happy to say that her experiences at AUW are helping her becoming the person she wants to be. . 

Like Passang, many other students coming from 15 different countries across Asia and the Middle East initially face challenges when they arrive at this liberal arts university in Chittagong. But with the help of AUW's pre-collegiate bridge programme – the Access Academy – they overcome those challenges and prepare for the undergraduate programme. Without the Access Academy, it would not have been possible for Passang and many other students to succeed in the rigorous, liberal arts education system that AUW offers. It is not only about developing the critical thinking demanded by this American-style education, but also about preparing the students, whose circumstances may have prevented them from accessing high-quality secondary schooling, for the long run through a world-class education.

The Access Academy plays a key role in preparing students for the university's high-calibre, American-style liberal arts curriculum. As a one-year, intensive pre-undergraduate residential programme, the Access Academy develops students academically, socially, and culturally to build a common foundation of skills. Focusing on English language, mathematics, and computer skills, the Access Academy helps young women become assertive and confident critical thinkers, effective communicators, and citizens of a global community. 

Since opening its doors in 2008, AUW has been empowering women through making world-class education accessible to highly talented young women. The MetLife Foundation has recently joined forces with AUW to support the university's Access Academy. With the MetLife Foundation's generous grant, the Access Academy is in a stronger position than ever to prepare students to meet the challenges of the world, and will facilitate the education of women who have limited access to high quality undergraduate education. 

As AUW draws students from socially marginalised and economically disadvantaged communities, MetLife Foundation's grants will allow many more women to change their lives through education. This partnership reflects MetLife Foundation's promise to support and promote knowledge worldwide through different activities. As part of this partnership, MetLife Foundation and AUW will work together to promote academic excellence and social equity. 

MetLife Foundation and AUW have a shared passion for providing educational opportunities to women, and this partnership will surely facilitate women's empowerment by equipping them with intellectual resources to create a brighter tomorrow.