News
Wales higher education mission to Malaysia
In September 2007 Wales International Consortium will be travelling to Malaysia to take part in an International Business Wales (IBW) Trade Mission. Taking part in the mission will be representatives from Swansea University and Bangor University alongside representatives from many Welsh companies seeking to explore the potential for trade with Malaysia.
Currently there are over 400 Malaysian students studying in Wales making Malaysia the third highest country of origin for international students with just China and India ahead of it. Many institutions in Wales have very strong links with Malaysia, Bangor University and Swansea University both have representational offices in Kuala Lumpur and Cardiff University are currently the 5th largest Russell Group recruiter of Malaysian students in the UK.
As part of the visit IBW has organised a business networking reception hosted by the British High Commissioner. Each of the 12 universities in Wales has invited prominent Malaysian alumni to the event: amongst the guests invited are government ministers, academics, and company directors. Some of Wales most successful alumni have come from Malaysia including
Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Dr Mohd Yahya Nordin (MSc Town Planning and PhD Local Government, Cardiff University), Non-Executive Director of Zecon Engineering Berhad and previously in Government for 32 years including the posts of Deputy Director of Policy Management and Governance of Higher Education Institutions and Secretary General of the Ministry of Higher Education
Y.B. Dato Sri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein (Aberystwyth University), currently Minister of Education and Member of Parliament, who has also been Parliamentary Secretary of Ministry of International Trade & Industry (1995-97) and Deputy Minister of Ministry of Primary Industries (1997-99).
His Royal Highness Prince Tunku Naquiyuddin, son of the 10th King of Malaysia. Senior member of Negeri Sembala royal family. Prince Tunku is an Aberystwyth University alumnus and CEO of Antah Holdings
Virginia West, Director, Wales International Consortium, said, “Malaysia is one of the best examples of the importance of encouraging international students into Wales and the impact that these students have on establishing links in the future between their own country and Wales. Within a thriving economy such as Malaysia, currently striving to establish its future vision, the fact that it seeks mutually beneficial relationships with Wales is unequivocally due to the extremely successful alumni from Malaysia.”
The impact that a university can have on a student, leading them to continue to represent the university long after their studies have ended, was recently expressed by
Fariz Abu Bakar, Chairman & CEO AB: Ltd, Aberystwyth alumnus and current President of the Old Students Association at Aberystwyth University. Mr Abu Bakar recently spoke of his time in Wales.
“There are places in our lives we tend to come back to. Many a time it is the memories of people that we attach to a place.. Aber to me is unique in that I tend to come back for not only that but also the place itself. Having studied in 4 continents and now travelled over 30 countries, Aber still has a special place in my mind and my heart. There are not many places in the world where the university’s campus is on top of a hill, overlooking the town and the sea; and during my varsity days, from my room I could see the sun-set almost everyday.
Whilst the beauty of Wales and Aberystwyth holds its own charm, the university holds its own tradition of drawing in world class teaching staff with faculties that continue to contribute to society and humanity with landmark findings and progress to all corners of the world. When you put the elements together, you naturally have a world class environment for learning. It explains why you often meet Aber graduates making an impact in contributing towards their respective vocation and society.”
NOTES TO EDITORS :
International Business Wales (IBW) is the Welsh Assembly Government’s International trade and investment arm. It forms part of the Department of Economy and Transport (DE & T) and acts as the driving force in establishing alliances between companies in Wales and their counterparts overseas, whilst actively seeking out inward investment opportunities in Wales and their counterparts overseas, whilst actively seeking out inward investment opportunities for client companies looking to Europe and the UK as a preferred international business location