Professor Christine Ennew will take over as provost and pro-vice-chancellor next year at the University of Nottingham, Malaysia – one of the UK’s best known offshore university campuses – as it enters a period of increased competition in the student market.
Ennew, currently pro-vice-chancellor for internationalisation at Nottingham, will take over from Professor Ian Pashby, who after a successful five years in charge is moving to the University of Hull as pro-vice-chancellor for engagement.
“Malaysia is now a regional hub for international universities in Asia and competition is growing all the time,” Ennew said.
“Over the next decade…teaching and learning will remain our core purpose but we will be focusing increased attention on strengthening research and business engagement, and we have an excellent base to build on.”
“25 foreign institutions have applied to open campuses according to the government”
Opened in 2000, Nottingham was one of the UK’s first branch campuses and now welcomes 4,400 students. However, as the country develops as an education hub (and seeks 200,000 overseas students by 2020) some 25 foreign institutions have applied to open campuses according to the government.
Herriot Watt University, the University of Reading and Manipal University of India will all launch in the next few years.
Ennew, who has previously had oversight responsibility for Nottingham’s Malaysia and China campuses, suggested the university could retain its edge by getting the right subject mix and enhancing the student experience.
She said it should also strengthen its research by building on core strengths, working in areas of direct relevance to the Malaysian economy, and partnering with Malaysian universities.
Said Ennew: “There are challenges ahead but over the last decade Nottingham has built a strong and hugely attractive campus-based institution in Malaysia and we are continuing to invest heavily in teaching, research and the student experience.”
The University of Nottingham’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor David Greenaway, said Ennew would inherit a healthy legacy. “When The University of Nottingham established a campus in Malaysia the move was certainly visionary.
“Just 80 students walked through the doors when the campus opened in 2000. Since then thousands of students of all nationalities have reaped the benefits of gaining a British degree after studying on the other side of the world,” he said.
