THE STAR, TUESDAY 19 APRIL 2016

special

COURSE FOCUS
FOREIGN DEGREES & BRANCH CAMPUSES

MALAYSIA is an emerging
educational hub that is attracting
attention from students across
the globe.
Much of this attention is due
to the Higher Education Ministry
and the Governments efforts to
transform the country into a
regional education hub by 2020.
With around 20 public
universities, 53 private
universities and 400 private
colleges, Malaysia is well on its
way to achieving that goal.
In 2013, the Higher Education
Ministry announced that it aims
to attract at least 200,000
international students to higher
education institutions in
Malaysia by 2020; currently, half
of that number has been
reached.
With 10 highly reputable
international branch campuses
already established in Malaysia,
the goal can easily be met.
International branch
campuses are foreign higher
education institutions that have
set up branch campuses outside
of their home country. They give
students the opportunity to
obtain a foreign certificate
without ever needing to move
out of their own country.
In Malaysia, there are two
projects that focus on bringing
foreign universities into the
country to turn it into an
international educational centre
EduCity Iskandar Malaysia and
Kuala Lumpur Education City
(KLEC).
Each of these built
environments is home to a
number of international branch
campuses.
The establishing of foreign
institutions in Malaysia
encourages globalisation and the
internationalisation of higher
education in this country.

At your doorstep
Students have always travelled
in search of the best study
opportunities and researchers
have always collaborated across
borders.
Until fairly recently, higher
education institutions have been
stubbornly national whether
limited by the demands of
domestic regulation or by
protectionist approaches in
potential destinations, says
Christine Ennew, chief executive
officer and provost of The
University of Nottingham in
Malaysia Campus.
But the past 20 years or so
have seen almost seismic shifts in
context, policy and regulation, and
in attitudes and behaviour, she
continues, adding that the success
of the first few pioneering
overseas campuses created a
model for others to follow.

Global education
If you want a quality and an
internationally recognised
education at an affordable price,
studying at an international
branch campus in Malaysia is a
good choice.
Programmes, courses, subject
syllabi and examinations offered
at branch campuses oftentimes
mirror those offered in their
mother institutions.
According to Lim Ming Hsiang,
head of marketing and student
recruitment at Heriot-Watt
University Malaysia, branch
campuses offer students the
opportunity to study the same

syllabus and get the same

certificate upon graduation as their
peers in the original campus.
This adds more value to the
whole package for local students
who study at international branch
campuses.
Apart from that, they also
benefit from the same teaching
styles as well as similar (if not
better) facilities that are available
in the UK campus, he says.
The large number of higher
education institutions in Malaysia
means that branch campuses face
greater competition in attracting
students.
To keep up, branch campuses in
Malaysia have to maintain the
high-quality standards that their
mother campuses hold.
This is good news for students as
they have a wide selection of
institutions to choose from while
being almost guaranteed to receive
quality education regardless of
which university they choose.

A cheaper alternative
Because of the drop in the value
of the Malaysian ringgit, studying
abroad may be financially
challenging for some students
and their parents.
They have to take into
consideration not only the
programme fees, but also the
travelling fare, accommodation
fees, telephone bills, food and
pocket money.
With branch campuses, students
do not need to leave the country as
many campuses are no further

Quality education
IF you want a globally
recognised certification and a
top-notch quality education,
international branch campuses
are right for you. Here is a list of
some of the best branch campus
universities in Malaysia.
l The University of
Nottingham Malaysia Campus
Situated in Semenyih,
Selangor, the campus is spread
across a massive 125-acre
(50.6ha) land and houses a selfsustaining neighbourhood
village within a garden
environment.
The courses offered at The
University of Nottingham are
accredited by recognised bodies
such as the UK Engineering
Council and the Association of
MBAs.
l University of Southampton
The Malaysia Campus is
known for its engineering
courses. Students study for their
than a few states away.
This eliminates the need to
spend on plane tickets and having
to go through the hassle of
applying for a student visa.
Not all students are able to
travel abroad for higher education
and indeed, worldwide, the
proportion of students who are

engineering degrees in two

portions, locally and in
Southampton.
l Heriot-Watt University
Malaysia
Heriot-Watt University opened
Malaysias first green campus in
Putrajaya in 2014.
The campus was purposefully
built to be environmentally
friendly with a green roof,
campus lighting powered by
sunlight and a rainwaterharvesting system.
l Curtin University Sarawak
Curtin University Sarawak is
one of only two foreign branch
campuses in East Malaysia.
The university offers subjects
and certifications that are
similar to its main campus in
Perth, Australia.
A wide array of courses is
offered at the university in
fields of engineering, science,
commerce and arts.
internationally mobile is less than
5% of the total student population.
What this means is that despite
the growth in the numbers of
international students, most
people will continue to access
higher education in their home
country.

> SEE PAGE 2

THE STAR, TUESDAY 19 APRIL 2016

2 course focus

THE University of Nottingham

Malaysia Campus (UNMC) has
appointed Prof Graham Kendall as
its new chief executive officer and
provost, effective Aug 1.
Prof Kendall is currently a
professor of computer science
and vice-provost (research and
knowledge transfer) at UNMC.
Since his appointment in
Malaysia in 2011, he has been
responsible for developing and
delivering the strategic aims of the
university in the areas of research
and knowledge exchange.
His period in office saw a steep
change in the volume and quality
of research, resulting in a five-star
rating in The Malaysian Research
Assessment (MyRA).
He is also the chief executive
officer of Nottingham MyResearch
Sdn Bhd. This company has
received Mida research and
development status, enabling
companies to invest in research
and development in a tax-efficient
way.
As the vice provost of research
and knowledge transfer, Prof
Kendall facilitated the links with
Nottingham campuses in the
United Kingdom and China for
research and commercialisation of
research projects.
He chairs the UNMCs research
strategy and knowledge transfer
committees.
He also sits on various boards
based in the UK, including the
Research Excellence Framework
Steering Committee and the
Research and Knowledge Transfer
Board.
Prof Kendall will be taking over
from Prof Christine Ennew, who is
taking up a new role as provost at
Warwick University, UK.

> FROM PAGE 1

The development of
transnational education and
specifically branch campuses
provides an opportunity for a
more international experience for
students who dont actually want
to travel abroad or cant afford to
do so, says Prof Ennew.
Lim agrees, saying, Although
much is similar academically, one
big difference between studying in
a branch campus and studying in
the main campus is that students
studying in the Malaysian campus
are paying less.
Programme fees at branch
campuses are generally cheaper
than the fees at the main
campuses. Students can save
up to 30% on tuition fees alone.

This is an exciting
opportunity and I
am looking forward
to building on
Christines hard
work and leading
the next phase of
expansion in both
our teaching and
research activities.
Prof Graham Kendall

Prof Graham Kendall will be the new chief executive officer and provost of The University of Nottingham Malaysia
effective Aug 1.

Taking the helm

Prof Ennew was instrumental in
setting up UNMCs campus 16 years
ago and has been at the helm as its
chief executive officer and provost
since 2013.
During her time as provost and
chief executive officer, Prof Ennew
has led the development and
implementation of the strategic
road map that is meant to guide
all aspects of the campus
development through to 2020.
I am delighted that Prof Kendall
will be taking on this key role at
UNMC. He has vast experience of
Malaysia as well as the UK campus
and has supported me immensely
during my tenure. I know that

under his leadership, UNMC will

continue to flourish and develop to
its full potential, says Prof Ennew.
Prof Kendall says, This is an
exciting opportunity and I am
looking forward to building on
Christines hard work and leading
the next phase of expansion in
both our teaching and research
activities.
Vice-chancellor of The University
of Nottingham Prof Sir David
Greenaway says, We had a hugely
impressive shortlist for this role,
which testifies to the current
standing of UNMC and its future
potential. Prof Kendall has the
vision and experience to ensure

n For more information,

visit www.nottingham.edu.my.

International learning at home

An international
community
International universities are
often well-known for their quality
education, top-notch facilities and
internationally recognised
certifications; this is no different
for their branch campuses
anywhere in the world, including
here in Malaysia.
This factor attracts students
from around the globe to study at
branch campuses here. Because of
this, local students studying at
these universities will spend much
of their time in a community that
is rich in diversity.

that its potential is realised and I

look forward to working with
him in his new leadership role.
Before he was appointed as
vice provost of UNMC, Prof
Kendall was the Dunford
Professor of Computer Science at
The University of Nottingham.
He has been awarded
externally funded grants worth
more than 5.5mil (RM30.79mil)
from a variety of sources,
including the engineering and
physical sciences research
council and commercial
organisations.
Before entering academia, he
spent almost 20 years in the

information technology (IT)

industry, working for various
companies, including the
cooperative Wholesale Society
and Provincial Insurance, UK.
In his IT career, he also
undertook a variety of roles
ranging from computer operator,
technical support manager and
operations manager.
Prof Kendalls research interests
lie in operational research, metaand hyper-heuristics, evolutionary
computation and artificial
intelligence, with a specific interest
in scheduling (particularly sports),
timetabling, cutting and packing,
rostering, and routing and logistics.
He has a PhD from The
University of Nottingham (School
of Computer Science) in 2000 and a
BSc (Hons) First Class in
Computation from The University
of Manchester Institute of Science
and Technology (UMIST), UK.

Students stand to gain global exposure and cultural insight from a diverse
group of peers at branch campuses.

International students make up

about 20% of the total population
in University of Southamptons
Malaysia Campus, says Prof Mark
Spearing, pro vice-chancellor

(international) of University of
Southampton.
Similarly, according to Lim,
20% of Heriot-Watt University
Malaysias students are

international students.
Lim adds that an international
community in a university setting
can help students discover new
interests and develop life skills; it
also helps build confidence and
adaptability. All these skills and
attributes are crucial for students
to survive the working world.
Just like Malaysia, branch
campuses are a melting pot of
different races and cultures. A
good university will embrace the
multicultural community that it
has and use it to the benefit of its
students.
For example, international
students have a strong influence
on teaching and learning at the
University of Southampton.
We have introduced crosscutting courses open to all students
with subjects such as global health,
global challenges, and intercultural
communications in a global world,
says Prof Spearing.
Prof Spearing also says that
the experience students get from
living, working and socialising with
peers from a wide spectrum of
countries and cultural backgrounds
is a big benefit in a university
environment.

Studying abroad
Students who dream of

travelling abroad to study will still

have the opportunity to do so if
they are a student at a branch
campus.
Some branch campuses in
Malaysia offer transfer
programmes and twinning
programmes to students, which let
them carry out a portion of their
studies locally and the remainder
of the course overseas.
Each institution offers various
twinning or transfer programmes
for a range of different courses.
For example, the University of
Southampton offers a transfer
programme for its engineering
courses.
The University of Southampton
offers engineering programmes
that allow students to spend two
years in Malaysia and then
transfer to Southampton in the
United Kingdom for the remaining
two years, says Prof Spearing.
On the other hand, the
Swinburne University of
Technology Sarawak Campus also
allows its students to study the
same course they are studying at
its main campus in Melbourne,
Victoria, by way of credit transfer.
As a student of an international
branch campus in Malaysia, you
will be sure to get all these benefits
along with a truly world-class
education.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 19 APRIL 2016

course focus 3

Visitors were given a chance to meet the resident simulated patient,

Sven, at Newcastle University Medicine Malaysias Open Day.

Hands-on
Open Day
PICKING the right university can
be one of the most important
decisions you make.
However, researching
university choices can be a tiring
process, while open days may
not truly give visitors a real feel
of campus life.
Hence, the 400 visitors who
attended Newcastle University
Medicine Malaysias (NUMed)
Open Day were pleasantly
surprised.
They were taught how to
extract DNA and operate on
mannequins with assistance
from the NUMed staff and
students on-campus, giving them
a feel of life on NUMeds campus
as a student.
Prospective students and their
families were welcomed at the
NUMed campus based at EduCity
in Nusajaya.
The day started with a talk on
the different programmes that
NUMed offers. Dr Kenneth
McKeegan spoke on the
Medicine (MBBS) programme,
Prof Chris Baldwin on the
Biomedical Sciences (BSc)
programme and Dr Paul
Hubbard on the newly launched
Foundation Certificate in
Biological and Biomedical
Sciences.
Dr Hubbard was visiting
NUMed from the parent
university in Newcastle,
United Kingdom. He was able
to talk about the Foundation
Certificate offered at Newcastle
University UKs Malaysia
campus.
This course is approved by the
Malaysian Qualifications Agency
and registered with the Ministry
of Higher Education.
The Foundation Certificate,
which is being launched at
NUMed in May, will give
participants the opportunity of
gaining guaranteed entry into
one of NUMeds prestigious
medical and biomedical
programmes.
We were delighted to host
prospective students and their
families at the NUMed campus.
It was a fantastic day with a real
sense of community and I have
to thank all the students and
staff who volunteered to make
this day special.
The feedback we received
from attendees was great as
our visitors really enjoyed the

hands-on approach we adopted

through interactive activities,
says Dr Kenneth McKeegan,
dean of academic affairs.
Visitors participated in the
extraction of DNA from bananas,
strawberries and kiwi fruits,
which gave them an insight into
life as a biomedical sciences
student.
Other parts of the course such
as histology and physiology were
also brought to life for the group
of visitors.
Histology is the study of the
microscopic anatomy of cells
and tissues of plants and
animals. It is commonly
performed by examining cells
and tissues under a microscope.
Physiology, commonly
referred to as the science of
life, looks at how our cells,
muscles and organs work
together.
The demonstrations allowed
prospective students and their
parents to look at plant samples
under microscopes.
The demonstrations took place
in the state-of-the-art biomedical
science laboratory, which is
fitted with some of the best
equipment available.
The design of the laboratory is
based on those at the Faculty of
Medical Sciences in Newcastle
University, UK.
In fact, the course is identical
to the one delivered in the UK.
The only real difference is that
that of the course fees in
Malaysia are significantly
less than that of the same
programmes offered at the
UK campus.
Prospective MBBS students
were also introduced to NUMeds
resident simulated patient, Sven.
Having Sven gives students
opportunities to practise
techniques that include clearing
a patients airway, inserting an
intravenous drip line into a vein,
and treating emergencies such
as a heart attack or septic shock.
Visitors to the Open Day tried
these techniques on Sven with
assistance from lecturers and
current undergraduates.
The day concluded with
refreshments after the visitors
were given a tour of EduCitys
state-of-art sports complex.

n For more information, visit

www.ncl.ac.uk/numed.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 19 APRIL 2016

4 course focus

Impactful research
Many people and medical
practitioners do not know that the
negative side effects due to the
interaction of prescribed drugs
with certain foods, herbs and other
drugs is a serious and increasingly
common problem.
This is a common problem in
Malaysian hospitals. However,
because patients are sometimes
unaware of this, they dont report
it, says Assoc Prof Dr Ong Chin
Eng from the School of Pharmacy
at Monash University Malaysia.
Assoc Prof Ong has been actively
involved in pharmacology research
since 1998 and embarked on
research of the enzyme

cytochrome P450, which is

responsible for metabolising up to
80% of commonly prescribed drugs
in the human body.
Assoc Prof Ong specifically set
out to determine if the enzymes
activity was affected in the
presence of certain herbs, which
may lead to altered drug responses.
His research looked into the
effects of tongkat ali, kacip fatimah,
misai kucing, hempedu bumi and
pegaga. His research concluded
that kacip fatimah showed good
potential in interacting with a
cytochrome P450 isoform that
mainly metabolises painkillers as
well as anti-convulsants and

anti-epileptic drugs.
The herb was also shown to
interfere with warfarin, a
commonly prescribed bloodthinning agent.
Assoc Prof Ongs findings also
showed that misai kucing can
potentially interact with antipsychotic and anti-depressant
drugs.
His findings are the first of its
kind to find a link between these
common local herbs and
commonly prescribed drugs.
Assoc Prof Ong believes his
research can serve as a guide for
doctors, alerting them to possible
interactions and allowing them to

Assoc Prof Dr Ong Chin Eng (second from left) is conducting research
on how drugs interact with herbs and foods, which he believes will
benefit future medical practitioners and their patients.

advise patients accordingly.

I believe that my findings
can be a guide for further
research and lead to lower
incidence of such problems in
drug treatment. Ultimately, our
goal is to improve the quality of
healthcare in this country,
he says.
At Monash University
Malaysia, Assoc Prof Ong
teaches pharmacology and
pharmacy practices, where
clinical-related topics such as
herb-drug interactions are
explained.
Assoc Prof Ong is actively

involved in pharmacology
research with particular interest
in drug metabolism and
pharmacogenetics of drug-drug
metabolising enzymes.
I often apply what I have
researched on in my lessons and
share them with my students. It
benefits them as they are then
up-to-date on the latest research
findings, he says.

n For more information on

programmes offered by the
School of Pharmacy at Monash
University Malaysia, visit
www.pharm.monash.edu.my.

Quality,
recognised,
affordable
STUDYING abroad could be a
costly option to earn a quality
degree.
Hence, Infrastructure
University Kuala Lumpur
(IUKL) has introduced
collaborative programmes as an
affordable alternative option to
pursue a recognised degree
overseas.
IUKL is rated as a SETARA
Tier 5: Excellent university by
the Malaysian Qualifications
Agency Rating System
SETARA13.
It not only offers programmes
that are highly sought-after by
the industry but also provides
collaborative programmes with
numerous foreign universities.
These programmes give
students the opportunity to
complete their degree abroad in
just one year. This would cut a
large part of the cost of studying
overseas as well as expose
students to a valuable crosscultural experience.
IUKL is affiliated with top-tier
universities in the United
Kingdom, Australia, New
Zealand, Ireland, the
Netherlands and China.
IUKL offers 2+1 or 1+2
collaborative programmes for
undergraduate study that
enables students to study for
two years or one year at IUKL
and complete the rest of their
studies at one of its partner
universities abroad.
Students also have the
opportunity to progress from
foundation or diploma at IUKL
to an overseas degree
programme.
If you wish to further your
studies overseas at universities
other than those listed, IUKL
Placement Centre can assist you
in your choice of university.
To further ease the burden of
pursuing a quality academic
qualification, IUKL provides
various financial assistance to

IUKL produces graduates with

communication, technological and
managerial skills.

its students.
There are six types of financial
assistance available in the form
of scholarships, tuition fee
waivers, loans and flexible
payment scheme.
IUKL also offers the IUKL
Sports Excellence Scholarship
and Tution Fee Waiver scheme,
where students can appy for
loans and scholarships from
PTPTN and EPF, among others.
The strength of IUKL today
stems from its rich history. For
more than 18 years, IUKL has
been providing quality education
and excellent professional
services in various fields of
infrastructure.
The universitys programmes
are recognised and accredited by
professional bodies locally and
abroad. The programmes are
approved by the Education
Ministry and Malaysian
Qualifications Agency.
The June intake is in progress.
Scholarships and tuition fee
waivers of up to 60% are offered
to students who excel in their
studies. Study loans such as
PTPTN and Yayasan Negeri are
also available.

n For more information, call

1800 88 STUDY (78839) or visit
www.IUKL.edu.my.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 19 APRIL 2016

course focus 5

Prof Dr Maryjo Adams Cochran enjoyed teaching SEGi students during her two-week stint in
Kuala Lumpur.

An American
experience
TERTIARY education in the United States has
always been a popular option among
Malaysians.
The United States has one of the finest
education systems in the world and
emphasises holistic learning and practical
training.
Hence, graduates with degrees from
universities in the US are highly sought
after by employers.
SEGi University and Colleges has years
of experience in offering quality American
degree programmes that enable young
Malaysians to pursue their American dreams
without having to leave Malaysia.
With a rich legacy of 128 years of
educating young Americans in their main
campus in Troy, Troy University joins
SEGis league of renowned overseas
partner universities to offer its exclusive
programmes to students at SEGi.
With this partnership, Malaysians can
not only pursue a 4+0 American education
programme at SEGi, but also have the
opportunity to complete their studies by
either pursuing the 2+2, 3+1 or 1+3 option
and gain valuable experiences studying
overseas at Troy University in the US.
Students in Malaysia will also benefit from
listening to visiting professors from Troy
University.
Troy University is an accredited member
of the Council of Higher Education
Accreditation and part of the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools in the US.
While its only partnership with a
Malaysian higher learning institution is with
SEGi University and Colleges, it also has
international partnerships with several
higher learning institutions in Vietnam and
Saudi Arabia.
Recently, Prof Dr Maryjo Adams Cochran
from Troy Universitys School of Journalism
and Communication visited SEGi to conduct
lectures for current communication students
under the American Degree Program.
She had a memorable experience teaching
at SEGi during her two-week stint. The
sense of joy is simply electric in my
classroom and it makes teaching almost
a spiritual experience. It definitely reminds
me why I began teaching in the first place,

The sense of joy is simply

electric in my classroom
and it makes teaching
almost a spiritual
experience. It definitely
reminds me why I began
teaching in the first place.
Prof Dr Maryjo Adams Cochran

she says.
She believes that SEGi students can have a
different perspective of college education
when they enrol in the American Degree
Program.
Not only will they benefit from the visiting
professors from Troy University such as Prof
Cochran, SEGi students can also connect to
Troy University professors and learning
materials anytime and anywhere using
Blackboard, an online Learning Management
System.
Hence, students are able to study an
American programme in Malaysia with the
option to complete it either in Troy
University or SEGi University.
There is a wide range of majors and
minors to choose from:
l Bachelor of Science in Communication
Arts (Promotion Minor)
l Bachelor of Science in Communication
Arts (Psychology Minor)
l Bachelor of Science in Psychology
(Communication Studies Minor)
l Bachelor of Science in Psychology
(Global General Business Minor)
l Bachelor of Science in Business
Administration (Global Business Major)

n For more information, call SEGi College

Kuala Lumpur (03-2070 2078/1800 888 028),
SEGi College Subang Jaya (03-8600 1888/1800
888 622), SEGi University (03-6145 1777/1800
887 344), SEGi College Penang (04-263 3888),
SEGi College Sarawak (082-252 566) or e-mail
askme@segi.edu.my or visit www.segi.edu.
my.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 19 APRIL 2016

6 course focus

Finding a balance
MANY students step into a tertiary
institution with sincere intent to
perform well academically.
However, in a place where you
are suddenly given the free rein to
determine how you spend your
time, keeping a balance between
your academic and social lives is no
small challenge.
Here are some tips for a balanced
university life:
l Set realistic goals
Your goals should be achievable
so that you do not burn yourself out
in the process of reaching them or
become disappointed when you fall
short.
At the same time, do not set goals

that do not challenge you.

l Expect mistakes
Even if you are realistic in setting
your goals, there will be times when
you fail to reach them and that is
okay.
Failing a test in the first half of
your semester means you can
identify your area of weakness,
work on it and do better in your
final examination.

l Prioritise
To be sure that you accomplish
important tasks each day, prepare a
list of things that need to be done
for the day, with the most urgent

tasks written at the top of the list.

Try to complete the most important
tasks first before moving on to the
ones nearer to the bottom of the list.
When important tasks have not
been checked off the list, it is only
wise to say no to the less urgent
activities.

l Treat studies as your work

One way to be a disciplined
student is to strictly set aside
weekdays as your workdays. This
means that if you have a few hours
between classes, you should spend it
catching up on some academic
reading instead of watching a movie
with friends.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 19 APRIL 2016

course focus 7

The new University of Southampton Boldrewood Innovation Campus is the result of a

collaboration between the University of Southampton and Lloyds Register.

A royal opening
HER Royal Highness The Princess Anne will
officiate the opening of the University of
Southamptons Boldrewood Innovation
Campus on Sept 17.
Combining world-class expertise from the
University of Southampton and Lloyds
Register, the 140mil (RM772.5mil)
University of Southampton Boldrewood
Innovation Campus is the largest universitybusiness partnership in the UK.
The campus will be a world-leading hub
for innovation, business and education. It
unites the University of Southampton and
Lloyds Register, which have been
collaborating on research projects for more
than 40 years in a unique partnership that
focuses on marine engineering and
engineering sciences.
Situated next to the citys main access road
from the M3 motorway, the campus is home
to the universitys Faculty of Engineering and
the Environment, Southampton Marine and
Maritime Institute and Lloyds Registers
Global Technology Centre.
When fully completed, the state-of-the-art
campus will host world-class research
infrastructure, including an anechoic wind
chamber and advanced fluid dynamics
experimental facilities to be used across a
range of disciplines such as civil engineering
and aerospace, as well as a 140-metre towing
tank that will provide detailed research on
new maritime technologies.
The facilities will eventually be
complemented by a new National
Infrastructure Laboratory funded by the
government and industry under the UK
Collaboration for Research in Infrastructure
& Cities (UKCRIC) programme.
Together, the university and Lloyds
Register aim to stimulate innovation, create
new businesses to create jobs and
opportunities for the local economy, and
establish Southampton and the wider South
Coast as a magnet for inward investment
from the UK and around the world.
Lloyds Register is a global engineering,
technical and business services organisation
wholly owned by the Lloyds Register
Foundation, a UK charity dedicated to
research and education in science and
engineering.
Founded in 1760 as a marine classification
society, Lloyds Register now operates across
many industry sectors with more than 9,000
employees in 78 countries.
Lloyds Register has a long-standing

reputation for integrity, impartiality and

technical excellence. Its compliance, risk
and technical consultancy services give
clients confidence that their assets and
businesses are safe, sustainable and
dependable.
Through its global technology centres and
research network, Lloyds Register is at the
forefront of understanding the application
of new science and technology to futureproof clients businesses.
Prof Don Nutbeam, vice-chancellor of the
University of Southampton, says, This new
campus will enable us to build on our
world-leading research and enterprise
activities as well as enhance our capacity to
make major advances and innovation.
Our proven track record includes
working in partnership with the Royal
National Lifeboat Institution to help
maintain its fleet, collaborating with Lloyds
Register and other industrial partners to
make ships more environmentally friendly
and developing autonomous vehicles and
systems to explore oceans and revolutionise
aircraft design, all of which can provide
British businesses with innovative
technologies and help transform the UK
economy.
Richard Sadler, chief executive officer of
Lloyds Register, says, We now have more
than 400 members of our marine team
based at the Lloyds Registers Global
Technology Centre in the University of
Southamptons Boldrewood Innovation
Campus, which positions our practical
experts next to the universitys learning and
research facilities to stimulate technical
innovation.The campus is redefining the
relationship between academia and
business, providing a fertile environment
for unique collaborative projects.
Through world-leading research and
enterprise activities, the University of
Southampton connects with businesses to
create real-world solutions to global issues.
Through its educational offering, it works
with partners around the world to offer
relevant and flexible education, training
students for all kinds of jobs.
This connectivity is what sets the
University of Southampton apart from the
rest; it makes important connections and
creates world impact.

n For more information, visit

www.southampton.ac.uk.

THE STAR, TUESDAY 19 APRIL 2016

8 course focus

Global education, rich rewards

AN acclaimed higher education
institution with a proven track
record of excellence, Heriot-Watt
University has a legacy that traces
back to the 1800s.
Heriot-Watt is a leading name in
British higher education,
particularly in fields such as
business, engineering and built
environment.
The university has been
commended time and again for its
courses and overall excellence. It
placed 27th in the United Kingdom
and third in Scotland according to
the Times Higher Educations Table
of Tables.
The university was also placed
among the top 10 in the UK by the
Times/Sunday Times Good
University Guide 2016 for a number
of its courses, including chemical
engineering, building, and art and
design.
It was also ranked 20th in the UK
and fourth in Scotland for
graduates having the highest
starting salary within six months
of graduation.
The university has grown over
the years and currently operates
five campuses three in the UK,
one in Dubai and one in Malaysia.
Its multiple campuses provide
students with campus transfer

Amanda Tham has received the opportunity to pursue her studies in

Heriot-Watts Edinburgh, Scotland, campus under the Santander scholarship.

opportunities, allowing them to

gain a truly international study
experience.
To ensure a smooth transfer
process, the university launched
its GoGlobal programme. This
programme allows students to
transfer between campuses for a

semester, a year or two years as

long as the programme is offered
in their campus of choice.
Students experience a smooth
transition as the syllabus and
examinations used across the
universitys campuses are
identical.

This makes Heriot-Watt a truly

global university, a testament to it
being ranked 46th in the world for
most international university by
the Times Higher Education World
University Rankings 2016.
In the past, its students have
been awarded a number of
scholarships from various
organisations to further pursue
their studies.
Most recently, Santander Bank
from the UK awarded current
Heriot-Watt University Malaysia
student Amanda Tham a
scholarship to pursue her studies
in the UK.
I am thankful to be awarded
the Santander scholarship. I would
not have achieved this without the
support and assistance from my
lecturers and my fellow
classmates, says Tham.
The UK has a great reputation
in providing quality higher
education. I am glad to have
this opportunity to enhance
my learning experience. Whats
more, I will have the chance to
meet new friends with different
backgrounds, she says.
Tham will be continuing her
studies at Heriot-Watt Universitys
campus in Edinburgh, Scotland.
In my opinion, the keys to

success are to stay organised and

set a target. It is important to
plan ahead for assignments and
examinations to prevent lastminute work. Follow your plans
closely and it will lead to success,
she says.
My advice is to have a clear
understanding of what you want
to achieve and put a considerable
amount of effort and hard work
to get it.
As Scotland is a country rich
with history and culture, Tham
has an interesting experience
ahead of her, one which she plans
to embrace with open arms.
I have heard that Scotland is
a country of great natural beauty,
famous festivals and friendly cities.
I look forward to visiting the
historical sites and museums.
Moreover, it is also a good
opportunity for me to travel
around the UK and learn more
about its different cultures,
she says.

n For more information on the

programmes and scholarships
offered at Heriot-Watt University
Malaysia, visit its campus in
Putrajaya or visit www.hw.edu.my
or call 03-8894 3888 or e-mail
hwum@hw.ac.uk.