Matrade to attract more international varsities to set up campuses in Malaysia

CYBERJAYA: Malaysia External Trade Development Corp (Matrade) aims to attract more international universities to set up campuses in Malaysia and offer training programmes and transnational education through tie-ins with local higher learning institutions.

Matrade’s Exports Promotion and Market Access Division senior director, Abu Bakar Koyakutty, said as such, Matrade would continue to provide support and assistance by working together with relevant institutions and associations to identify opportunities for collaborations and joint-ventures.

“Currently, Matrade has 47 international offices for local institutions to leverage for data gathering and market intelligence.

“We believe that with all the efforts and contributions from the private sector and closer collaborations with the government, the services sector, including the education sector, will be able to achieve greater expansion into the export market and contribute positively to Malaysia’s international trade,” he said.

Abu Bakar said this at the officiating of the International Executive Masters in Business Administration (MBA) programme by United Kingdom (UK)-based Institute of Commercial Management at Asia Metropolitan University yesterday.

He said Malaysia was wellknown as many renowned international universities such as Nottingham, Reading, Newcastle, Southampton and HeriotWatt from UK and Australian universities such as Curtin, Monash and Swinburne had set up campuses here.

Meanwhile, Asia Metropolitan University’s deputy vice-chancellor, Professor Datuk Dr Jayles Yeoh, said the International Executive MBA programme would be conducted in collaboration with 10 industry partners, including Starbucks Malaysia operator, Berjaya Starbucks Coffee Co Sdn Bhd, Marrybrown Sdn Bhd and 99 Speed Mart Sdn Bhd.

“The students will be attached with the industry partners three days a week, where they will learn retail management and record keeping among other things, and they will spend two days learning in class,” he said. — Bernama