Varsity keen to recruit more out-of-state students

University of Reading’s state-of-the-art campus at EduCity in Iskandar Puteri.— Photos: ZAZALI MUSA/The Star

UNIVERSITY of Reading Malaysia wants to work closely with the Johor government to attract more local students from other states to its campus at EduCity in Iskandar Puteri, Johor.

Its provost and chief executive officer Professor Wing Lam hopes both parties can work together to create better awareness on tertiary education opportunities at the Malaysia campus.

“We look forward to a strategic partnership with the state government to make EduCity a more attractive educational hub,’’ he said during the visit by Johor investment, trade and consumer affairs committee chairman Lee Ting Han to the campus.

Prof Wing said the university planned to increase the current enrolment of 650 to over 1,000 by 2026, which would include foreign students who now make up 10%.

Lee (middle) signing the10th anniversary plaque of University of Reading’s Malaysia campus. With him are Johor Convention and Exhibition Bureau manager Azamimah Azam (left) and Prof Wing.

“We could work with recruitment agents to attract foreign students to our Malaysia campus.”

He said Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam offered good markets for the university, aside from China that was also a big market.

“We cannot work alone to attract more foreign students to Johor. We need to work together not only with the state government but also with existing international universities at EduCity,” he added.

Prof Wing also proposed that the state sponsor Johor students to further their education at the university, through state-linked companies.

The Malaysia campus, he said, offered the same curriculum, quality standards and degrees as its home campus in the United Kingdom but was more affordable.

He said their five leading schools were at the Malaysia campus, namely Henley Business School, School of Law, School of Psychology, School of the Built Environment, and International Study and Language Institute.

“We focus on high-quality degrees that offer our students excellent career prospects. Our aim is to address talent needs locally and regionally,’’ said Prof Wing.