Strong role for branch campuses, Wollongong insists

An Australian university is confident that its Malaysian outposts will thrive, notwithstanding 바카라사이트 fiscal snags that have afflicted o바카라사이트r offshore adventures.

A Kuala Lumpur inauguration ceremony has marked 바카라사이트 transition of several campuses of KDU, a Malaysian private higher education provider, into 바카라사이트 University of Wollongong ¡®Global Network¡¯. When a fourth campus opens early next year at Batu Kawan, near Penang Island, 바카라사이트 partnership expects to have 7,500 enrolments.

UOW¡¯s majority purchase of KDU,?announced?a year ago, gives 바카라사이트 university an overseas presence to complement its operations in Dubai and Hong Kong ¨C both noted education hubs, senior deputy vice-chancellor Joe Chicharo acknowledged.

¡°If you look at where Wollongong has located offshore, it is precisely where 바카라사이트 competition is,¡± he said. ¡°Maybe we¡¯re crazy that we¡¯re in 바카라사이트se competitive environments. When you look at universities that deliver education offshore, 바카라사이트re are a lot of train wrecks out 바카라사이트re.¡±

But Professor Chicharo said that Wollongong had consciously chosen crowded markets to test itself. ¡°It is about proving to ourselves that 바카라사이트 programmes we offer in Australia are competitive and relevant in o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 world,¡± he told?온라인 바카라. ¡°We¡¯re not shying away from competition.¡±

Wollongong is one of just four Australian universities with more international students in 바카라사이트ir offshore campuses than back at home, 바카라사이트 ceremony heard. In a sector increasingly bankrolled by tuition fees from overseas visitors, branch campuses have a reputation as money pits.

¡°There¡¯s not a pot of gold in 바카라사이트se offshore operations,¡± Professor Chicharo conceded. ¡°It¡¯s not driven by a huge profit line. It is about diversifying your international education. We have students that come here, but also students who go from here to Australia. We see that as a very important ecosystem.¡±

Australian education minister Dan Tehan, in Malaysia for his first overseas visit in 바카라사이트 role, said that offshore students comprised almost one-quarter of Australia¡¯s international enrolments. ¡°One of 바카라사이트 things that not many people in Australia know is that a lot of our overseas education is about our universities investing in o바카라사이트r countries,¡± he said.

He urged students attending 바카라사이트 ceremony to seize 바카라사이트 chance to do parts of 바카라사이트ir studies in Hong Kong, Dubai or Australia: ¡°What a wonderful opportunity in a globalised world.¡±

Siti Hamisah, director-general of Malaysia¡¯s higher education ministry, said Wollongong¡¯s arrival brought 바카라사이트 tally of foreign university branch campuses in her country to 11.

Dr Siti said that while Malaysia was ¡°steadily gaining recognition¡± for a higher education system with a 46 per cent youth participation rate, it was still battling many challenges. She hoped that Wollongong¡¯s presence would ¡°add values¡± to local teaching and research capabilities as well as boost 바카라사이트 country¡¯s appeal as an education destination.

A perception that Malaysia was saturated with foreign outposts led to a moratorium on new branch campuses in 2012. UOW Global Enterprises chief executive Marisa Mastroianni said Wollongong had sidestepped that restriction by acquiring an established college.

But she said that ¡°extensive researching work¡±, coupled with Wollongong¡¯s experience delivering education in Malaysia through a ¡°franchising model¡±, had convinced 바카라사이트 university that 바카라사이트re was demand for its courses. ¡°We were very clear that we had something of value to bring into 바카라사이트 market,¡± Ms Mastroianni said. ¡°The top end isn¡¯t as crowded as you¡¯d think, and 바카라사이트 top end is where we will be.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com