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EduCity to house 12,000 students

[ 21-12-2008 ]
EduCity to house 12,000 students
Khairil Anwar Ahmad

Khairil Anwar Ahmad

 

JOHOR BARU: Even if you're way past your university-going days, there could be one thing which could inspire you to go back to school.


An artist's impression of the lecture theatre for the Newcastle University of Medicine Malaysia in EduCity - Pix provided by Iskandar Investment Berhad
An artist's impression of the lecture theatre for the Newcastle University of Medicine Malaysia in EduCity - Pix provided by Iskandar Investment Berhad
The problem is that the "one thing" will only be ready in about 10 years so you'll just have to wait, or send your children there instead.

Education is set to go truly international once EduCity, Iskandar Malaysia's exciting educational hub, is completed by 2018.

The 123.4 hectare project under Iskandar Investment Berhad (IIB) will feature eight faculties each renowned for their medicine, hospitality, engineering, creative multimedia, creative arts and business faculties.

Khairil Anwar Ahmad, IIB's senior vice-president of education and healthcare, said EduCity promises to be a vibrant and exciting place once it is completed as education is a major component of Iskandar Malaysia's comprehensive development plan formulated by Khazanah Nasional.
"Whenever investors come, the first thing they ask is, 'Where are the schools for our children and where are the healthcare facilities for the family?'

"Education is one of the pillars of the comprehensive development plan and our vision for EduCity is for it to become an international education destination," Khairil said at a recent interview.

Construction within EduCity itself has already begun, with drainage work beginning ahead of schedule while Bandar Nusajaya, where EduCity is situated, already has the necessary infrastructure.

EduCity has been envisaged as a dynamic atmosphere where students can mingle and get a tertiary education in an international environment.

The eight faculties, each from different international universities, will be placed in one area where they will share a common library and an "International Village" which has hostels, cafeterias, shops and recreational facilities.

Khairil estimates that 12,000 students will be enrolled when EduCity is completely ready in 10 years.

The faculty for the Newcastle University of Medicine Malaysia (NUMed) will be completed by 2011 and ready to admit students in September 2011.

NUMed, with which IIB signed a definitive agreement with on Nov 20, this year, is the only medical school outside of the United Kingdom recognised by the British Medical Council.

"Our universities are selected based on the best in class principle -- they may not be among the Top 10 universities in the world, but they're very strong for the particular faculty that we're looking at for EduCity.

"For example, the University of Newcastle's medical school is ranked fourth in the United Kingdom."

The other faculties have signed MoUs with IIB and will be revealed in due time Khairil said, adding that negotiations have already begun with a top UK engineering faculty and a prestigious Swiss hospitality school.

The most obvious plus point about EduCity, Khairil added, is that its universities will offer degrees identical to those in their home campuses, but at substantially lower cost.

"The government, for instance, spends RM1.2 million to send one medical student to the UK but at NUMed, it will only cost RM600,000."

The cheaper price tag would hopefully attract parents from the Middle East, Indonesia, China and India. EduCity would also provide multiplier economic effects for locals as there will be a demand for bookstores, catering and laundry services.

Academic staff for the institutions will be a mix of local and foreign lecturers, Khairil said.

Apart from tertiary education, EduCity will also include a selection of well-known international schools one of which is the Cempaka International School, an international boarding school for boys.



Source: http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Sunday/National/2433358/Article/index_html
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