A campus ready for the future
THE University of Reading Malaysia's (UoRM) state-of-the-art, purpose-built campus in EduCity brings together cutting-edge teaching, learning and social facilities to give bright young minds a conducive environment to flourish.
Sprawled over 30,000sqm, it is made up of two buildings centred around a central atrium known as the 'Heartspace' – which is inspired by the university's Whiteknights home campus in Reading on the outskirts of London, England.
Incorporating the triple-accredited Henley Business School, UoRM offers UK-quality education at Foundation, Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Doctoral levels in the fields of business, finance, accounting, investment banking, Islamic finance, pharmacy, psychology, quantity surveying, building surveying, construction management, real estate and the Henley MBA.
Chief Operating Officer David Savage said creating a campus from scratch allowed them to design a building for the way things are done now, rather than adapting an existing structure for new use.
“Following consultation with students and academics, we designed an integrated, self-contained space with ultra-modern and versatile facilities.
“As today's students seek social spaces where they can study and do group projects together outside of the classroom, we've incorporate lots of areas and corners that facilitate such interactions,” he explains.
Work on the campus, which is the University of Reading's first outside the UK, started in 2011 by international firm Scott Brownrigg. Construction began in August 2013 and was completed by July 2015.
After opening its doors to the first students in September 2015, the campus had its official inauguration in February 2016. In the long term, it can accommodate up to 3,000 students.
Teaching spaces within UoRM whose innovative design saw it make the finals of the World Architecture Festival Awards 2013 are flexible and can be used for various subjects.
Savage said the Heartspace has proved a popular gathering spot for students. Framed by lightweight bridges that connect the two blocks on either side, it also has an amphitheatre for talks, live music and major events.
Sleek angular lines define the exterior facade, with a mosaic-like weave of shaders adding visual whilst reducing daytime glare. Similarly, the roof utilises large inflated ‘cushions’ to allow natural light through and provide shade.
“The aim was to recreate the feel of our campus in the UK - which has over 300 buildings spread over 300 acres - but with a modern concept conducive for education in the 21st century and fits the local surroundings.
“We didn't want it to be just another building, but a statement structure that impresses and draws you in. Parents are always wowed when they step inside, and students can certainly be proud of studying here.
“Notably, 90% of our academic staff here are PhD holders, so students are being taught by people who truly know and love their subject,” Savage added of UoRM, which is a 20 and 40-minute drive from the Johor and Singapore International Airports respectively.
Psychology suite
The School of Psychology's hightech Brain and Behaviour Research Unit is packed with specialised facilities and equipment that support a range of disciplines from neuroscience to developmental, cognitive and clinical psychology.
It has two observation rooms equipped with purpose-built camera systems that allow one to monitor the behaviour of participants in experiments, including one that is dedicated to children and toddlers with age-appropriate furniture.
According to Psychology lecturer, Dr Andreas Kalckert, these are built in such a way that allows for students to join the researcher in the observation, thus enhancing their training.
Another kitchenette-equipped laboratory enables research on food and nutrition, an emerging field in healthy psychology, while a neurophysiology lab with the latest EEG systems facilitate precise monitoring of brain activity, heart rate and muscle activity.
A computer suite with compartmentalised booths allows studies to be conducted using computerised tests, with eye trackers providing information on participants' behaviour that can benefit marketing and advertising efforts.
Pharmacy laboratories
Students under the Reading School of Pharmacy Malaysia have the privilege of working in a range of high-tech and specially designed laboratories brimming with the latest apparatus for both practical lessons and experiments.
Among them is the Clinical Skills Unit, a mock community pharmacy with A/V recording capability where students can practise communication skills and respond to patient symptoms.
They also learn using two online platforms - LabTutor where they serve virtual patients with virtual medications and monitor its impact, and MyDispense which develops their clinical and legal interpretation skills for prescription filling.
“This allows them to look at real life scenarios they are likely to face in the future. These were written by real pharmacists and industry professionals who have been in such situations themselves,” points out Head of Pharmacy Dr Samantha Weston.
She said their fully-stocked medicine cupboards allow students to learn about different medications and the varying laws governing them in Malaysia and the UK.
A Medicines Synthesis Unit (Chemistry Lab) has fume hoods used for the extraction and purification of novel compounds, complemented by a Medicines Manufacturing Unit (Formulation Lab) where these are turned into pills, capsules and ointments.
Through these, pharmacy students develop skills and learn the processes and techniques used in the manufacture, trituration and packing of various medical formulations.
“There are so many things they can do, and students just love their time in the labs,” Weston highlighted.
Building Information Modelling Lounge
Students under the School of the Built Environment have access to UoRM's dedicated BIM Lounge (Building Information Modelling High Performance Computing Lab), which employs an open BIM concept.
It is a universal approach to collaborative design, realisation and operation of buildings based on open standards and workflows utilised by international organisation BuildingSMART and several leading software vendors.
Thus, students get access to all the software and computer tools on the market, and can even download almost all of them to their personal devices like laptops.
UoRM's syndicated room for BIM coordination activities has an Augmented, Virtual and Mixed Reality (AR/VR/XR) studio, equipped with drafting tables, 3D laser scanner and 3D printer with dual extruders.
Associate Professor and Head of Built Environment Dr Mohd Faris Khamidi said, “What makes our degrees unique is that we teach students how to utilise BIM.
“As the industry today relies heavily on such digital technology, we integrate it into 40% of our curriculum to ensure they are ready for the 21st century workplace.”
Financial Dealing Room
One of only three in Malaysia and the only one in Johor, UoRM’s fully-equipped Financial Dealing Room allows finance students to practise stock trading using ICTrader, one of the most sophisticated trading simulations available.
A news-driven, online dealership market where traders act as market makers both to other simulated sell-side market makers and buyside clients, it lets students fully immerse themselves in the world of dealing.
Henley Business School graduate Daniel Cheng Lit Han said, “The simulation gave me the opportunity to put classroom theory to the test without actually losing real money.
“It will benefit the future careers of all who use it, as it familiarised us with trading terminology and the fast-paced nature of real-time trading."
Learning Resource Centre
UoRM houses a highly functional and contemporary Learning Resource Centre (LRC) which provides vital support for students, researchers and staff who are undertaking academic activities.
Aside from a collection of books and other printed texts, the LRC offers access to many e-resources including reliable databases of articles, books and e-journals.
The LRC has a variety of study areas to accommodate different ways of studying, from rooms for group study, to quite nooks for individual study.
A seminar room is available for students to rehearse presentations and hold meetings, while a range of computing facilities with highspeed internet are on hand, including open access computers, scanners, printers and power points.
Student recreation areas
With various spaces for one to unwind, mingle and study, RUMSA (Reading University Malaysia Students' Association) is fitted with foosball, pool and table tennis tables, a piano, bean bags, study pods, and even a club room for meetings and activities.
Complementing these are two F&B outlets - Dolche Vita and Grandma's Kitchen, which offer cafe grub and local delights respectively, so students can conveniently have their meals on campus without having to venture out.
The University of Reading, with a long-established reputation for teaching and research, is ranked among the Top 200 institutions globally according to the Times Higher Education and QS World University Rankings.
For more information on its courses and intakes, visit www. reading.edu.my.