The importance of international research collaboration and strengthening ties between the UK and ASEAN countries has been highlighted by speakers at a series of events marking the international impact of the University of Nottingham Malaysia.
The University of Nottingham campus near Kuala Lumpur is to host delegates from the British Council’s Going Global conference from 2-4 May 2018, and celebrations are being held in the UK and across Asia in the lead up to the event.
The University of Nottingham was the first to establish a UK overseas campus in Malaysia almost 20 years ago.
“The UK needs to be flexible and responsive because Brexit might encourage more students to come to Malaysia”
On April 24 in London, a joint event with the British Malaysian Society saw a panel of industry experts take part in a debate on the relevance of a global Britain to a rising ASEAN.
Provost and chief executive at the University of Nottingham Malaysia Graham Kendall told The PIE News that more needs to be done to encourage UK students to become more mobile and take opportunities in Southeast Asia.
“A lot of students come to Nottingham because we have international opportunities, but then they don’t take them,” Kendall said.
“[UK] students are not going to travel to Malaysia in their first year of higher education because they have just arrived. In the second year, they have made friends and gotten a house so they don’t want to move.
“And they’re not going to travel in the third year because it’s too important for them to focus on their studies.
“I’m not sure that the [UK higher education] sector has gotten the model right.”
Kendall added that while the UK is “more than capable” of leading in education, it is only a matter of time before it is disrupted.
“The Going Global theme of ‘global connections, local impact’ is really important”
“The UK needs to be flexible and responsive because Brexit might encourage more students to come to Malaysia.”
The evening’s activities included a Going Global pre-departure reception at Asia House, including speeches by the executive director of the Royal Society Julie Maxton, UUKi director Vivienne Stern and representatives of the Malaysian High Commission.
Photo: University of Nottingham
“Everybody engaged in research knows you don’t research in isolation you research in collaboration,” Maxton told the crowd.
“The Going Global theme of ‘global connections, local impact’ is really important because you’ve got to make the world a better place.
“We can all talk about the big, big achievements, but if we haven’t improved anything for people locally then we haven’t really done our job.”
Part of the celebrations also saw more than 3,000 students, staff and offer holders given a flavour of Southeast Asia for Nottingham and Malaysia Day in Nottingham on April 25.
The event included a talk on the evolution of the University of Nottingham Malaysia and opportunities to try various Malaysian foods, Malaysian games and dance performances.
Going Global 2018 takes place from 2-4 May and features a live platform where you will be able to view and take part in tweets, quotes, polls, videos, photos and more here.
