To maintain the quality of higher education in the country, the Ministry of Education and Higher Learning provides clear guidelines to ensure that only Tier One institutions are allowed to be established in Malaysia.

says Prof Christine Ennew, chief executive officer and provost of the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus.

Students get to maintain the same cost of living expenses, save in terms of course fees, which are considerably lower compared to fees at the main campus, and still have the choice of studying for one or more semesters at the main campus or other overseas branch campus.

Academic prestige

main or branch campus because the programmes are recognised across all campuses.

Indeed, courses offered by a university, whether in the main or branch campus is consistent – although some modifications may be necessary to ensure that the programme is relevant to the branch campus country.

“Academic staff in the main campus and in Malaysia work together in the development of postgraduate programmes – as do administrative and technical staff. This helps ensure that the quality and standard of delivery is consistent and reflects that fact that all students are awarded the same degree regardless of the campus they studied at,” explains Prof Ennew.

It is important that the postgraduate programmes offered by branch campuses are relevant to students in Malaysia and the broader region. The local knowledge will determine the range and types of programme offered.

Some students, especially those from Asian and Muslim countries, are interested to earn a qualification from a Western university but also want to study fields that are relevant to their geopolitics.

This unique challenge is addressed with specialised or subfield programmes that are offered in the branch campus.

So while many of the existing postgraduate programmes offered

Statistically, this strategy works. A significant number of students from the Middle East, East Asia and South-East Asia choose Malaysia as their destination for higher learning.

Over the last few years, Malaysia is consistently ranked as one of the top 10 countries with international students and the government aims to double the number of international students to 200,000 by 2020.

The government’s priority to make Malaysia a renowned study destination is also reflected in the development of Educity Iskandar, a 142ha campus, which will comprise no fewer than eight foreign universities.

Among them are Newcastle University, University of Southampton, University of Reading, Raffles University and The Netherlands Maritime Institute of Technology.

Educity’s site in Iskandar Malaysia will make it an ideal location to build potential academic and industry-linked collaboration, community engagement and integrated economic environment with the presence of multiple sectors in the development corridor, including manufacturing, tourism and health care.

On the flip side, one Malaysian university is paving the way to export the Malaysian education experience worldwide.

Limkokwing University for Creative Technology has set up 12 branch campuses, including in the United Kingdom, China, Indonesia, Lesotho and Swaziland.

Evidently, the world’s economy today is driven by knowledge and innovation.

The future of the nation will depend on the country’s success in producing thinkers, shapers and movers through quality education for economic growth.

The existence of branch campuses in Malaysia will make international education accessible to both local and foreign students.