ALMOST a quarter of a century ago, Malaysia announced its Vision 2020, an ambitous plan to become a self-

sufficient industrialised nation by the year 2020.One of its goals was to provide world-class education and, with
six years to go, it is fast becoming a thriving hub for domestic and international students alike

The local universities are getting better.While not yet a rival to Singapore, Hong Kong, China or Singapore,
Malaysia's domestic universities are fast improving.Universiti Malaya in the capital Kuala Lumpur is ranked 167th
in the 2013/14 QS World University Ratings and its computer science, education and engineering programmes
preside in the world’s top 100. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in Bangi, Selangor, close to Kuala Lumpur, is well
renowned in the education, politics, engineering, law and mathematics fields. And Universiti Sains Malaysia is the
only institution in Malaysia to boast a subject in the top 50 - its environmental studies programme is ranked joint
28th.

A major part of Malaysia's state investment in higher education is its growing partnerships with universities in
other countries. Many foreign universities, especially Australian and British, have branch campuses in Malaysia.
For example, Monash University (Australia) and the University of Nottingham (UK), both of which are in the top
100 universities in the world, have branch campuses in Malaysia.KBU International College is partnered with
Anglia Ruskin, Nottingham Trent and Sheffield Hallam universities in the UK.In the southern Malaysia city of
Johor, developers are building EduCity Iskandar, a giant international student village and campus shared by eight
leading universities. Four are operational and the others will be completed by the year 2018. They will include
the universities of Reading, Southampton and Newcastle (medicine) in the UK, the Netherlands’ Maritime
Institute of Technology, Singapore’s private Raffles University and the University of Southern California’s School
of Cinematic Arts from the US. An Olympic-sized swimming pool and14,000-seat sports stadium are among the
impressive facilities the campus will boast when it is completed in 2018.

Malaysia is amulti-ethnic melting pot. Just half the population is Malay while almost a quarter is Chinese and
over seven per cent is Indian. Whilst Malay is the official language of Malaysia, English is a recognised language
and widely spoken. Such a setting is a great foundation for international students to make them feel at home in
addition to having a sense of belonging. The global community allows for religious, cultural and social acceptance
and is testimony to the fact that Malaysia is home to just under 100,000 international students. Studying at
university is not solely an academic experience and having the opportunity to appreciate the different facets,
cultures and religions that make up the Malaysian identity is a learning curve in its own right.

It needs skilled graduates,With certain industries on the rise and a growing economy, Malaysia is in need of
skilled workers. Industry makes up a significant part of the country’s GDP with oil, gas and palm oil making leaps
and bounds in the export markets. In addition, there is a particular demand for graduates in accounting,
biotechnology and computer science sectors. Being able to witness the development of these industries will keep
you ahead of the game as well as to having the opportunity to network to make the all-important contacts to get
your first step on the career ladder.

It's simply beautiful being a student may well be a full time occupation but a break every now and then is
surely well deserved! Why not set off and explore the beautiful and diverse landscape Malaysia has to offer? You
can wade through the jungle in Taman Negara National Park or head to the rainforest in Malaysian Borneo. Find
a reprieve from the humid heat in addition to getting peace and quiet by heading up to the Cameron Highlands.
Or walk through a UNESCO Heritage site in the form of the colonial streets of George Town in Penang before
savouring the culinary delights there. But if you wish to escape it all, paradise is found in the form of the
Perhentian Islands. Wherever you wish to explore, Malaysia has somewhere that will cater to your tastes.