International opportunities found on home ground
By THERESA BELLE
OVERSEAS campuses first appeared in the 1950s when American universities set up campuses in other countries to facilitate the education of American citizens and military personnel abroad. In the 1990s, globalisation played a great part in turning this concept around, changing the purpose and perception of such campuses to what we know today.
Foreign branch campuses are set up upon agreement with partner host countries, such as in the first Malaysian agreement in 1998 with Monash University, which started with the government extending an offer to the Australian university to set up a campus here.
The education landscape is ever-evolving, and numerous foreign branch campuses have since reached our shores. Several international names have made a local presence in the collective pursuit of affordable yet valuable tertiary education.
These foreign branches promise high-quality education with wider recognition at a relatively lower cost. Students may pursue twinning programmes or even complete their studies locally and still graduate with the same qualifications as the overseas campus. Foreign universities also offer the semester or year abroad option so local students may study at a parent or partner university overseas at the same fee as the Malaysian branch campus.
It is no wonder then that foreign branch campuses have a significant role to play in realising the Malaysian government’s higher education goals under the Economic Transformation Programme. The government aims to establish more branch campuses for foreign universities in the coming years, allowing only Tier One institutions in the country and exploring Malaysia’s potential as a regional education hub.
Students who experience higher education at these campuses are able to grow holistically through the unique opportunities offered. The national education focus is shifting towards creating lifelong learners who are capable of seeking and developing relevant skills and knowledge, which match the pedagogy and learning style at these institutions.
“The foreign branch campus offers a different style and approach to higher education involving a student-centred approach, critical thinking, teaching to challenge and critique, as well as the development of transferable skills,” says Prof Christine Ennew, chief executive officer and provost of The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus.
There are many benefits to studying at a foreign branch
The national education focus is shifting towards creating lifelong learners who are capable of seeking and developing relevant skills and knowledge, which match the pedagogy and learning style at these institutions.
campus, and Prof Ennew summarises the most important element: “Students learn to learn; not learn subjects per se, but to be lifelong learners of new knowledge in the future and continue to be able to learn even outside of formal education.”
Matching students of such potential with institutes that are able to deliver the education necessary to mould them into leaders of tomorrow is therefore vital in producing graduates who are able to steer the nation’s development in the right path.
There are many leading foreign branch campus universities in the country that can be considered for tertiary education.
Here are some options for potential student to consider:
• Monash University Malaysia
The pioneering foreign branch campus in the country, Monash University is located in Bandar Sunway and has been in operation since the late 90s. Today, it has an established School of Medicine and Health Sciences and houses several key research facilities that play an integral part in the overall educational experience.
There are nearly 6,000 students pursuing foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate studies across several disciplines, including arts and social sciences, business, engineering, information technology, medicine and health sciences. • University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus (UNMC)
UNMC prides itself in being a global university, with a student body consisting of 30% international students from 70 countries as well as staff members of more than 30 nationalities.
“A foreign branch campus has the capacity to provide choices and options to make the higher education landscape more diverse,” says Prof Ennew, as reflected in UNMC’s active research and development, state-of-the-art facilities as well as vibrant campus life.
The university offers foundation programmes in arts, business, engineering and science and bachelor’s degrees in arts and social sciences, engineering and science.
• Curtin University Sarawak
This campus covers 300 acres (121ha) in Senadin, north Sarawak, surrounded by lush greenery and wetlands. Originating in Perth, Australia, Curtin Sarawak incorporates impressive modernity in facilities and research while preserving the traditional flavour that is synonymous to the region. It is also equipped for a well-rounded campus life and projected to increase in student population upon completion of its next phase of development.
The university offers foundation, diploma and degree courses in areas such as arts, business, commerce, engineering and science as well as technology.
• Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus
A branch of Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia, Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus prides itself in producing top graduates; 90% of their learners are absorbed into the industry within six months of graduating.
The campus is located in Kuching, Sarawak, so students can enjoy a relatively lower cost of living on top of lower course fees. The university offers foundation, diploma and degree courses in business, computing, design, engineering and science, which are structured after the courses in Australia.
It also boasts a multicultural student and staff body and advanced facilities, both of which contribute to a well-rounded learning experience in their own ways.
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