Scottish tertiary institution, Heriot-Watt University, has secured a UK£20 million deal to launch a new campus in Malaysia. Malaysian city development company, Putrajaya Holdings, selected the institution from several that applied to win the international tender, as part of government plans to transform Malaysia into a high-income earning nation.
Professor Andy Walker, senior deputy principal at Heriot-Watt, which is based in Edinburgh and already has a campus in Dubai, said at least 40 per cent of students are expected to be international, possibly higher. “Through this initiative, Heriot-Watt plans to make a strong contribution to the delivery of Malaysian government plans for economic growth,” he said.
The campus, launching next year and due for completion in 2014, will initially take 4,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students of varying courses, including science, business and engineering. There is a long-term view to extend this number to 6,000 and for students to gain UK-recognised qualifications.
Datuk Azlan, chief executive officer of Putrajaya Holdings, said: “As an established provider of transnational education, Heriot-Watt University was the clear choice. We recognise the benefits of this partnership will go much further than creating an environment for learning. It will deliver opportunities for economic growth through supporting future generations and [carving] stronger links between [Malaysia and other countries].”
