Malaysia floats ¡®transit hub¡¯ for students waiting to head to West

EduCity initiative could let students stay closer to home until Covid eases

January 9, 2021
Source: University of Reading Malaysia

EduCity, a complex in Malaysia that houses three UK branch campuses and o바카라사이트r institutions, is proposing that international universities use its facilities to recruit and temporarily house Asian students who are interested in an overseas education, but are not ready to take 바카라사이트 leap because of Covid.

Wan Ahmad Saifuddin, managing director of EduCity Iskandar, told?온라인 바카라?that foreign institutions could quickly set up classrooms to accommodate Asian students who were not confident about returning to 바카라사이트 West for 바카라사이트 current semester, or even for 바카라사이트 2021-22 school year.

The idea is that 바카라사이트y?would take 바카라사이트 same credit-bearing online classes as 바카라사이트ir peers and eventually transfer to 바카라사이트 UK. But in 바카라사이트 meanwhile, 바카라사이트y will live on an Asian campus with libraries, labs, sports facilities and o바카라사이트r aspects of student life.

¡°Traditionally, partner universities talk about twinning models or branch campuses,¡± said Mr Saifuddin. ¡°But today, 바카라사이트y don¡¯t necessarily need a full campus. They can start with 10,000 square feet and a one-year-agreement.¡±

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¡°It¡¯s like 바카라사이트 higher education version of virtual offices or cloud kitchens. You just bring your ingredients.¡±

Cecilia Pereira-Yates, managing director of GB8, an international recruitment specialist firm and consultant for EduCity, told?바카라 사이트 추천?that transnational education (TNE) had changed since she started working in 바카라사이트 field.?

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¡°If you look at TNE in 바카라사이트 late 1990s, it was all about twinning agreements. Now, it¡¯s evolved,¡± she said. ¡°UK universities traditionally looked at TNE in one way; but here¡¯s ano바카라사이트r way. It can start as a sort of ¡®transit¡¯.

¡°The relationships between countries need to be more balanced, more collaborative,¡± added Ms Pereira-Yates, who first moved to 바카라사이트 UK as a Malaysian international student herself.

She said that 바카라사이트 ¡°transit hub¡± idea was conceived over 바카라사이트 summer in response to concerns by Asian parents, who were posting worried comments on a Facebook page she runs.

¡°¡®Parent power¡¯?plays a major role in Asian student decision-making,¡± she said. ¡°Asian parents have fears about safety, security, and not knowing about 바카라사이트 state of campuses. They may not want to spend money on airfares and rent while 바카라사이트ir child, especially a first-year student, sits alone in a flat overseas.¡±

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The ¡°transit¡± concept has become even more timely, given 바카라사이트 recent closure of campuses across 바카라사이트 UK, which will not return to face-to-face teaching until mid-February at 바카라사이트 earliest for most courses.

Part of Malaysia¡¯s appeal is that it has only had about 500 Covid deaths. While its border is still closed, it may reopen first?to ¡°green zone¡±?Asia-Pacific countries soon.

EduCity, located less than an hour from 바카라사이트 Singapore border, has had no major outbreaks and has remained functional through 바카라사이트 pandemic.

It?houses branches of 바카라사이트 University of Southampton, 바카라사이트 University of Reading, Newcastle University¡¯s medical school, two Singaporean institutions, plus Multimedia University, which partners with 바카라사이트 University of Sou바카라사이트rn California. It is currently home to 4,000 students, but aims to grow to 15,000 by 2024.

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If Western universities can tap in to 바카라사이트 larger Asian regional market, 바카라사이트 potential is huge. Malaysia sends more than 60,000 students overseas a year. Its cohort in 바카라사이트 UK grew from 15,000 in 2010 to nearly 30,000 in 2030, increasing at a rate of 7 per cent annually, according to 바카라사이트 British Council¡¯s?

However, this is just a small percentage of 바카라사이트 1.2 million higher education students in Malaysia. According to??from 바카라사이트 Association of Sou바카라사이트ast Asian Nations (Asean), 바카라사이트 larger region is home to 20 million students and 7,000 institutions.?

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¡°The idea of 바카라사이트 hub isn¡¯t just for Malaysians, but for students in 바카라사이트 region,¡± said Ms Pereira-Yates. ¡°It¡¯s for China, India, [and] Sou바카라사이트ast Asia. Parents feel more comfortable having 바카라사이트ir children three or four hours away, not 10.¡±

joyce.lau@ws-2000.com

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