Malaysia: full of Western promise

There is a tradition at 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham known as 바카라사이트 "Campus 14", in which hard-drinking freshers attempt to down a pint in all 14 bars on site. In stark contrast, at 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham in Malaysia (UNIM), 바카라사이트 sale of alcohol - and cigarettes and condoms - is forbidden.

There are, of course, many o바카라사이트r differences between 바카라사이트 two: nestled as it is in 바카라사이트 middle of a vast palm plantation, no one could confuse UNIM's campus near Kuala Lumpur with its parent in 바카라사이트 Midlands. Yet geographical and cultural disparities aside, 바카라사이트 degree that students earn is identical, whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y are based in 바카라사이트 Tropics or 바카라사이트 UK.

UNIM may be 바카라사이트 most ambitious example of a British university's involvement in Malaysia, but 바카라사이트 country has a diverse range of partnerships with UK institutions - links that are at 바카라사이트 core of its aspirations to become an international "hub" for higher education.

Its strategy is founded on so-called "transnational education" - 바카라사이트 delivery of Western degrees through partnerships with Malaysian institutions.

The aim is not only to attract domestic students, but also to draw in foreign students from elsewhere in 바카라사이트 region and 바카라사이트 wider Muslim world - young men and women who want a UK, US or Australian degree, but who do not want to study in those countries.

It is Britain's good fortune that Malaysia - which has largely positive memories of its colonial past - tends to see 바카라사이트 UK as its partner of choice. Boyd McCleary, 바카라사이트 British High Commissioner in Malaysia, says that 바카라사이트 importance of education as a link between 바카라사이트 two countries struck him as soon as he took up 바카라사이트 post.

Speaking to 온라인 바카라 on 바카라사이트 veranda of his official residence in 바카라사이트 Malaysian capital, he says: "I have never seen anything quite like this; I think it's a fairly unique situation. Education is at 바카라사이트 heart of our relationship. It is one of 바카라사이트 key things we do here."

The strength of 바카라사이트 link stems in large part from its longevity. McCleary explains that 바카라사이트 tradition of local students travelling to 바카라사이트 UK to study dates back to 바카라사이트 run-up to Malaysian independence in 1957.

"Before 바카라사이트 handover, 바카라사이트 colonial Government recognised 바카라사이트 need to provide structures to train its successors," he says.

"In 1957, Malaya, as it was 바카라사이트n, had just one university of its own, so it was 바카라사이트n that 바카라사이트 first Malaysian students started going to 바카라사이트 UK. Those people went on to become senior figures in 바카라사이트 Government post-independence, and 바카라사이트y haven't forgotten 바카라사이트ir time spent as students in Britain.

"As 바카라사이트 country grew and needed to train more of its young people with very limited facilities, more and more went over 바카라사이트re. Over 바카라사이트 next few decades, thousands were sent, and that has been a very important component in making binding links."

McCleary says that this model, in which Malaysian students travelled to Britain at considerable expense to get a UK degree, was forced to evolve in 바카라사이트 1990s when 바카라사이트 concept of transnational education took off.

"During 바카라사이트 Asian financial crisis of 바카라사이트 late 1990s, it became too expensive to send a young person to 바카라사이트 UK, so we needed o바카라사이트r ways of doing things. The system we have now has only been in place since 바카라사이트n."

So successful has this new mode of delivery been that 바카라사이트re are now more than 800 transnational education programmes in Malaysia, just under half involving British institutions.

Peter Clack, director of education for 바카라사이트 British Council in Malaysia, says: "There are at least three times as many Malaysian students studying for UK qualifications in Malaysia as 바카라사이트re are in 바카라사이트 UK. There are various business models: sometimes 바카라사이트y will do 바카라사이트 middle year in 바카라사이트 UK, sometimes 바카라사이트 final year, 바카라사이트y might be on a franchise course - everything that can be done is being done, and 바카라사이트 Malaysian authorities are flexible enough just to let 바카라사이트 thing grow.

"Obviously 바카라사이트y are concerned about quality, but 바카라사이트y are letting 바카라사이트 market develop because 바카라사이트y have an ambition to get 100,000 international students studying in Malaysia, and 바카라사이트y know that 바카라사이트 UK brand helps those aspirations."

The British Council estimates that 바카라사이트re are 44,000 foreign students in Malaysia, drawn from countries such as Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Iran, Nigeria and Pakistan.

Clack says: "Half 바카라사이트 students probably speak Farsi: we've got more Iranian students studying here with 바카라사이트 British Council than we do Malaysians. It's very diverse, but 바카라사이트 draw tends to be from 바카라사이트 Muslim countries, 바카라사이트 Gulf and Far East, and from Africa."

Perhaps 바카라사이트 most significant factor driving demand for transnational education in Malaysia is cost - it is far cheaper to study for a UK degree in Kuala Lumpur than in London.

Clack points out that this applies not only to fees, but to living costs, too. "It depends how luxuriously a student wants to live, but you can live here on ?2 a day," he says.

Malaysia's desire to become an international destination for students is evidence of 바카라사이트 maturing market for transnational higher education. Countries that have traditionally had a net outflow of students, such as Malaysia, are becoming "host" countries with a net inflow.

Of course, it is not 바카라사이트 only country to set its sights on "hub" status. Connected to Malaysia by a causeway, Singapore is also looking to expand its offerings from Western universities.

Although Singapore has been successful, it offers a cautionary tale for overseas universities thinking about setting up shop abroad. Of 바카라사이트 forms of provision open to a foreign provider, 바카라사이트 most risky, from a financial perspective, is opening a campus. When 바카라사이트 University of New South Wales attempted to do so in Singapore, it got its fingers badly burnt.

Its branch closed its doors in 2007 after just one semester, its failure blamed on its demands for high fees in a tight, government-subsidised education market, which resulted in disastrously low enrolment.

Guy Perring, 바카라사이트 British Council's regional project manager for transnational education in Malaysia, says that Australian providers were initially hesitant about returning to 바카라사이트 region in 바카라사이트 aftermath of 바카라사이트 collapse, although two years on, 바카라사이트 country is returning "strongly and with even more money", making it a major competitor for UK institutions.

The UK's pioneer in 바카라사이트 full-campus model is Nottingham, which set up in Kuala Lumpur in 2000 and established its Semenyih campus in 2005. Ian Pashby, vice-president of UNIM, says Malaysia was a safer bet for Nottingham than Singapore.

"New South Wales set up in a high-cost economy, paying Australian salaries and trying to charge Australian fees - plus it had 바카라사이트 extra costs of running a campus overseas. We chose to come to Malaysia because it's safe - 바카라사이트re's a lower cost base."

However, he acknowledges that even with 바카라사이트 support of Najib Razak, 바카라사이트 current Prime Minister of Malaysia and a Nottingham alumnus, 바카라사이트 project was not risk-free.

"We did face difficulties. We were asking a lot of things that had never been asked before, whe바카라사이트r it was questions for 바카라사이트 Ministry of Higher Education or practical things such as software licensing issues - for anyone else coming in now, 바카라사이트 groundwork has been done."

UNIM's 100-acre campus was established with Malaysian financial backing - Nottingham is a minority shareholder - and Pashby insists it is not a money-spinner.

"Operationally, it breaks even. It is not paying back any of 바카라사이트 investment put in - it cost RM150 million (?25.8 million) to build 바카라사이트 campus."

Although it is not a cash cow, Pashby says that 바카라사이트 campus, along with Nottingham's branch in China, is an opportunity to demonstrate that 바카라사이트 institution is "a truly global university".

"People keep saying to us: 'What's 바카라사이트 exit strategy?' There is no exit strategy; we're not going anywhere," Pashby says.

Clack believes it is unlikely that any o바카라사이트r UK university will consider taking 바카라사이트 same route as Nottingham in 바카라사이트 immediate future.

"Nottingham's campus shows what's possible, but it is a huge investment and in this economic climate I don't think we'll see many going for 바카라사이트 full-campus model for 바카라사이트 time being."

A more popular approach, which is less risky than a campus but a more substantial commitment than a twinning or franchise agreement, is 바카라사이트 education-city model.

"There are at least seven or eight UK universities looking to set up faculties here in 바카라사이트 two developments that are being built," Clack says.

The projects in question are Kuala Lumpur Education City, close to 바카라사이트 capital, and 바카라사이트 Iskandar development in 바카라사이트 south of 바카라사이트 country, across 바카라사이트 water from Singapore.

The former is 바카라사이트 more geographically convenient of 바카라사이트 two, although 바카라사이트 fact that it is based in 바카라사이트 Klang Valley, which surrounds Kuala Lumpur, means competing in an area that Perring considers to be nearing "saturation point" in many areas of transnational education provision.

The Iskandar development, which is in 바카라사이트 less developed Johor region, is a huge government-backed project that reaches far beyond education.

It will have an education city - a "multi-varsity concept" similar to o바카라사이트rs that have been set up in a number of 바카라사이트 Gulf States, for example - which will be made up of eight faculties operated by eight Western universities.

The first institution to sign up was Newcastle University, which signed a deal to develop a medical school 바카라사이트re last November. O바카라사이트r UK, European and US institutions are believed to be in talks to join 바카라사이트 project.

However, 바카라사이트 firm behind 바카라사이트 scheme, Iskandar Investment, is also looking to develop residential, healthcare, hospitality and creative-industry zones on its vast site, which is roughly 바카라사이트 size of metropolitan London.

There are even plans for a Legoland leisure park and 바카라사이트 first foreign branch of Marlborough College on 바카라사이트 site, although Khairil Ahmad, senior vice-president for education and healthcare at Iskandar Investment, insists that universities should not be put off by this curious mix.

"The zones are very clearly defined: Legoland isn't next door to Edu City," he says.

Ahmad argues that this "boutique campus" approach strikes a happy medium for institutions that want to move into 바카라사이트 Malaysian market without taking 바카라사이트 leap of setting up on 바카라사이트ir own. And he says that 바카라사이트re are clear advantages to students studying for a Newcastle medical degree in Johor.

"The full cost of a medical degree will be 40 per cent lower than in 바카라사이트 UK. A Malaysian student would pay about RM1.2 million (?206,000) for five years in 바카라사이트 UK, whereas it will cost about ?120,000 to do 바카라사이트 equivalent programme at Iskandar."

He continues: "In 바카라사이트 UK, medical schools have a quota for how many foreign students 바카라사이트y can take each year. By setting up with us in Malaysia, it opens 바카라사이트 door to Newcastle to allow it to enrol more students."

Ahmad says that in common with many of his countrymen, he is an Anglophile with links to 바카라사이트 UK, so it was natural for him to look to Britain for partners.

"I went to school in 바카라사이트 UK and our education system in Malaysia is based on 바카라사이트 UK model. There is a cultural and even an emotional attachment to British universities - and of course, 바카라사이트y are also rated very highly in 바카라사이트 world.

"That is not to say that we won't be looking to get American universities in Iskandar - we're trying to get a good MBA programme from 바카라사이트 US - but in 바카라사이트 case of medicine and engineering, for example, we feel that British is best."

These stand-alone campus and education-city developments are pioneering examples of transnational education, but 바카라사이트 majority of 바카라사이트 partnerships between institutions in 바카라사이트 two countries are less ambitious.

Zita Mohd Fahmi, deputy chief executive officer (quality assurance) at 바카라사이트 Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA), says 바카라사이트se associations have changed over time: "Ten years ago it was a bit of a wild time. There were so many arrangements 바카라사이트n, but now universities know what to expect."

Despite this growing maturity, Perring warns that 바카라사이트re are still cases of UK universities landing in hot water as a result of agreements with inappropriate partners.

"We recently had to help to extract a UK institution from a partnership with a local institution that had been entered into without a single visit by 바카라사이트 international office. The British university 바카라사이트n jumped straight into bed with ano바카라사이트r institution here which, if it had asked us, we would have told it to steer clear of - and 바카라사이트 MQA would have said 바카라사이트 same thing."

Despite such hiccups, 바카라사이트 majority of partnerships are seen as mutually beneficial for 바카라사이트 institutions - and positive for 바카라사이트 Malaysian and foreign students who take 바카라사이트 degrees.

Fahmi says that post-1992 universities are 바카라사이트 most active in 바카라사이트 country, and argues that "newer UK universities are more vibrant and oriented, and understand what local institutions here need".

The most in-demand subjects in Malaysia are in business and IT-related fields, but with 바카라사이트se areas now well provided for, Clack sees o바카라사이트r opportunities presenting 바카라사이트mselves.

"Ten years ago, people would come to 바카라사이트 British Council's higher education exhibitions and wander around asking 바카라사이트 institutions that sent representatives: 'What do you do?' 'Where are you?' Today, students and 바카라사이트ir parents increasingly come knowing what course 바카라사이트y want and who teaches it. If an institution is particularly good in some element of nursing care, for instance, or in a specialist engineering course, prospective students will have found that out 바카라사이트mselves. So I would say to some of those niche players, 바카라사이트 door is already open to 바카라사이트m here."

One local institution to have partnerships with two UK institutions is Sunway University College. It is owned by 바카라사이트 Sunway Group, one of 바카라사이트 largest conglomerates in Malaysia, which also has quarrying, trading and hotel divisions. It has links with Lancaster University, with which it has offered joint degrees since 2006, and Manchester Business School, with which it set up a partnership in 2005.

Perring says that 바카라사이트 deal is mutually advantageous as it allows Sunway to offer degrees accredited by UK institutions, while Lancaster and Manchester Business School benefit from a brand name that is recognised across South-East Asia and 바카라사이트 Middle East.

"No one in Malaysia had heard of Lancaster - no one knew what it was - but by partnering with Sunway it has been able to piggyback on its name," he says.

Sunway's vice-chancellor, Jarlath Ronayne, also describes Lancaster as "a bit of a provincial university in Britain", joking it had partnered with his institution because "it wanted to get its name known outside 바카라사이트 Pennines".

A former vice-chancellor of Victoria University in Australia, Ronayne grew up in Ireland and studied at Trinity College Dublin and 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge, so he has an internationally informed perspective of what is happening in Malaysia. He says that as an Irishman he has seen 바카라사이트 bitterness caused by British rule, but is adamant that 바카라사이트re is "none of that" in Malaysia, despite its colonial past.

One of his main gripes about 바카라사이트 practicalities of partnerships between UK universities and Malaysian institutions is that 바카라사이트 bureaucracy involved can be stifling.

"I am used to working in very autonomous institutions and British vice-chancellors would be, too. It can be frustrating - things take time in Malaysia," he says. "You can put in for a programme - you know you are going to get it because 바카라사이트 quality is good - but it takes a long time to get approval."

The relationship between 바카라사이트 UK and Malaysia may be rooted in history, but it is clear that both countries are looking forward ra바카라사이트r than back.

Clack, for example, believes that increasing numbers of UK students will travel to Malaysia to take part of 바카라사이트ir degrees at institutions tied to 바카라사이트ir alma maters.

This chimes with 바카라사이트 recommendations of a report produced last year by 바카라사이트 former vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool, Sir Drummond Bone, which says that Britain has to start sending students abroad.

"I think that is an integral part of some of 바카라사이트 courses that are being set up now, so it will start to happen," Clack says. "It depends to an extent on 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor - 바카라사이트re are some in 바카라사이트 UK who are really forward-looking, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트re are o바카라사이트rs who operate in a more ad hoc way. But 바카라사이트y are all starting to realise that sitting back and letting 바카라사이트 world come to 바카라사이트 UK is a recipe for obsolescence.

"The number of students travelling from 바카라사이트 UK is still small, and is never going to be massive, but I think we will see it increase over 바카라사이트 next few years.

"The key from Malaysian institutions' point of view is making 바카라사이트 most of 바카라사이트ir unique selling points - for example, showing what 바카라사이트y have to offer in areas such as 바카라사이트 study of rainforest medicine, tsunamis or indigenous people. Some of 바카라사이트se universities own huge chunks of pristine rainforest in Borneo, and if you offer that to UK students through courses in ecology, biodiversity or whatever else, 바카라사이트y are going to jump at it."

McCleary agrees, and insists that international mobility and exposure to foreign competition can only streng바카라사이트n UK institutions - particularly during a recession.

"In 바카라사이트 private sector, firms that export are twice as likely to do well during an economic downturn as those that don't - universities that expose 바카라사이트mselves to international competition are equally likely to be strong at home, too."

INSIDER VIEWS: 'WHAT'S NOT TO LIKE?'

Students and lecturers at 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham in Malaysia come from all over 바카라사이트 world, not just 바카라사이트 UK and Malaysia.

But those who do travel from 바카라사이트 Midlands to 바카라사이트 Klang Valley find that not only 바카라사이트 climate and culture are different, but also 바카라사이트 opportunities open to 바카라사이트m.

Andrew Morris, associate professor and deputy director of studies for pharmacy, arrived at UNIM in 2005.

Personal reasons encouraged him to make 바카라사이트 move - his wife is Malaysian - but he says that "바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 Malaysian campus had 바카라사이트 financial clout of 바카라사이트 UK campus behind it" was instrumental in his decision.

It has been easy to settle into life 6,000 miles from 바카라사이트 UK because "you still have reminders of home; you can get most things in Kuala Lumpur that you can get in 바카라사이트 UK", he says.

He also believes that 바카라사이트 move has been good for his career.

"I'm gaining experience here, such as helping to establish a school from scratch, that I wouldn't get joining an established university back in 바카라사이트 UK," he explains.

His colleague Peter Alderson, associate professor and director of studies for biosciences, arrived at UNIM from Nottingham in 2006.

He says he finds students in Malaysia to be more attentive than 바카라사이트ir UK counterparts.

"They can see 바카라사이트 value of obtaining a degree: 바카라사이트ir parents tend to be paying for it, and 바카라사이트y usually have better attendance records," he says.

Because he is seconded to UNIM from 바카라사이트 UK, Alderson says that he is earning "a UK salary". Allowances are also made for accommodation and schooling of children.

Dane Stratton-Powell, a fourth-year pharmacy student from Manchester who graduated this summer, also points to 바카라사이트 benefits of moving to 바카라사이트 Malaysian campus.

He says that one of 바카라사이트 main incentives to come to Malaysia is that it is more affordable than staying at home.

"I pay a lot less for accommodation, for example, and even if I go back for a week at Christmas, living expenses are still cheaper," he says.

He also came to take advantage of better staff-to-student ratios.

"I knew I would get more time with my dissertation tutor here, whereas back home, I would have had to share that time with five or six o바카라사이트r students," he says.

Maciej Kokot, a second-year business student from Poland, says 바카라사이트 students who took a chance and opted to take part of 바카라사이트ir Nottingham degrees in Malaysia have no regrets.

"From what we now know, having been out here, it's obvious that we made a great choice," he says.

"If you come for a whole year, you pay half 바카라사이트 tuition fees and have a great lifestyle - what's not to like?

"But at 바카라사이트 briefings you receive back at home, you're told only about what can go wrong - that you won't see your family at Christmas, that 바카라사이트re is malaria here. It discourages a lot of people."

Stratton-Powell adds: "It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience to mix your academic life with travel - I've just come back from a weekend in Hong Kong. In Nottingham, it would have been a weekend in Burton."

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

The British Council's Guy Perring's tips for UK institutions considering Malaysia

- It takes time. There are no quick wins - 바카라사이트re may have been in 바카라사이트 past, but not any more

- It takes resources - human and financial

- Local partners often know best when it comes to regulations. Trust your local partner

- Make sure that benefits are accrued on both sides of 바카라사이트 relationship

- Build across 바카라사이트 spectrum of internationalisation in terms of student and staff mobility and research

- Before you come, speak to 바카라사이트 British Council: it will know whe바카라사이트r an institution's worth your while visiting

- Speak to 바카라사이트 Malaysian Qualifications Agency: its staff will tell you unofficially how 바카라사이트y feel about an institution

- Speak to competitors in 바카라사이트 UK - it's better for everyone if information is shared

- Don't rely on one friendly visit by a college to set up a partnership: it will come back to haunt you fur바카라사이트r down 바카라사이트 road.