Putting stock in global partnership

Sustainable development: Teamwork actualised through partnerships is the key to turning goals into realities. - 123rf.com

GOAL 17 of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) calls for a global partnership for sustainable development.

As the saying goes, “No man is an island.” Teamwork actualised through partnerships is the key to turning goals into realities.

In the context of higher education, international partnerships help promote a more diverse community while providing greater mobility of and opportunities for students and academics.

They also impact an institution’s curriculum, teaching and research development positively.

It takes time, effort and trust to build meaningful and sustainable collaborations.

Last month, I flew overseas to re-establish old friendships. Despite the long journey from Kuala Lumpur to the United Kingdom – almost 24 hours including a 12-hour layover in Bangkok – I was excited.

It was not only because this was my first travel abroad since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, but also because I was going to meet old and new friends, particularly from Cambridge University and Lancaster University, in person.

Familiarity with Cambridge

As I arrived for my first meeting at Wolfson College, one of over 30 colleges that constitute Cambridge University, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia.

This was where I had once called home when I was pursuing my studies in the 1980s.

No time for sights, or the Bridge of Sighs, as lunch on arrival was hosted by Wolfson College president Prof Jane Clarke.

She is an inspiring woman in many ways, including being the first-ever lady president at my alma mater and the wonderful fact that we have been working closely on various programmes for years.

Together with her developmental director Sian Cook, we discussed our institutions’ plans to reconvene our joint Asean Emerging Researchers Conference later this year, with the aim to enhance research capacity between young academics from Malaysia and across the Asean region.

On the following day, the main event of my visit took place – the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Cambridge University and Sunway University through the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation.

The MoU outlined areas of collaboration between our institutions which would span research, education programmes and transboundary engagement activities – an expansion of the key agreements in the landmark signing in October 2017 by Sunway Group founder and chairman Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah and Cambridge University vice chancellor Prof Stephen Toope.

It was truly an honour that Cambridge University was once again represented by Prof Toope, with pro-vice chancellor for Strategy and Planning Prof David Cardwell in attendance.

Prof Cardwell and I have known each other since the 1990s when Sunway College hosted the Cambridge admissions interviews for all prospective Malaysian students. It was such a wonderful reunion of friendship and partnership.

Adding to the significance of the occasion was the presence of Malaysian Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad.

It was a proud moment as our Malaysian student leaders joined the distinguished delegation at the hallowed halls.

The ministerial delegation also visited the Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, a recent addition to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, where they were shown some of the state-of-the-art research laboratories, and given briefings on the cutting-edge research on infectious diseases, climate change and cancer.

Growth with Lancaster

Fifteen years ago, I helped forge a one-of-a-kind collaboration, which allowed for a top 10 university in the UK to mentor our then fledgling university, and to ensure the quality and validity of our newly minted homegrown degrees.

The partnership has led to the joint graduation of many Sunway-cum-Lancaster students as they received both our institutions’ degree scrolls upon the completion of their studies and a Lancaster testamur, testifying to the fact that the classification of honours awarded is on par.

Fast forward to 2022, and the visit to Lancaster University was both timely and meaningful for my Sunway University colleagues and me.

Through thick and thin, our institutions have grown together and this year, we celebrate our 15th Sunway-Lancaster anniversary.

To mark the occasion, we planted a tree at the Bowland North Quad at Lancaster University. I know the tree will be well taken care of, and have requested picture updates every now and then.

I trust Lancaster University Global Engagement head Ben Matthews, whom I first met when he was a student leader all those years ago, will oblige.

Time-tested bonds

My official trip to the UK was not only successful and productive, but also more poignant for me than expected.

The warmth and hospitality shown by our counterparts reminded me that what we have achieved has been built, developed and forged over decades.

Looking back on my three decades with Sunway, I must add that my colleagues have been instrumental in this journey, together with the firm support of Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah.

Bringing up a fresh entity in education to realise the founder’s vision of a “Harvard of the East” required constant learning and strategic leverage of the reputation of both Cambridge University and Lancaster University as among the UK’s most innovative institutions.

Undoubtedly, we had to be brave to break new ground, and prove that we were worthy and capable partners.

We had to grow in our own right, invest in our people, and be able to contribute in return from an education, research and innovation perspective.

Financial investments alone only go so far – and many others can do the same – but a sustainable relationship is more than that.

Time, effort and trust are the true treasures here.

Prof Dr Elizabeth Lee is the chief executive officer of Sunway Education Group. A veteran in the field of private higher education, Prof Lee is also an advocate for women in leadership. She has been recognised both locally and internationally for her contributions to the field of education. The views expressed here are the writer’s own.