Sunway University hosts UK-Malaysia-Jiangsu (China) Higher Education Forum 2025

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Global Engagement & Mobility

Sunway University was honoured to host the UK-Malaysia-Jiangsu (China) Higher Education Forum 2025 on 19th February. The event, organised by the British Council Malaysia, served as a platform to discuss strategies for global partnerships and collaborations between the three nations. The British Council, the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, played a key role in facilitating the forum.

The event commenced with an address by Jazreel Goh MBE, Director Malaysia of the British Council. She emphasised the importance of collaboration between Malaysia, Jiangsu (China), and the UK, highlighting the crucial role Asian countries play in the global economy. In line with this, she proudly announced the launch of the Kuala Lumpur Statement—a formal declaration of intent to strengthen the existing ties in higher education between the three nations.
Following this, Datuk Prof. Dr Azlinda Azman, Director General of Higher Education at the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia (MOHE), took the stage. She expressed gratitude to all participants for their commitment to collaboration, a sentiment echoed by MOHE. She also shared insights into her experiences with the UK-Malaysia University Consortium (UKMUC), which has significantly benefited Malaysian higher education. Datuk Azlinda expressed her hope that this new trilateral partnership would yield similarly positive outcomes.

The keynote address was delivered by Prof. Mushtak Al-Atabi, CEO and Provost of Heriot-Watt University Malaysia. He painted a compelling picture of a modern, multipolar world seeking sustainability and equality, debating whether to adopt an integrative or distributive approach. According to Prof. Mushtak, universities must play a vital role in shaping modern leaders. He outlined the multiple responsibilities of higher education, including:

  • Building purpose-driven leaders
  • Establishing mutual trust
  • Enabling collaborative leadership
  • Bridging cultures and institutions
  • Promoting mission-based research
  • Advancing transnational education

 

Panel Discussion 1: Opportunities and Barriers in Trilateral and Multilateral Partnerships in Higher Education
 

Moderator:
Jazreel Goh MBE, Director Malaysia, British Council
 

Panellists:

  • Dr Xiaoxiang Mao, Deputy Director, Jiangsu Provincial Department of Education
  • Professor Vishna Devi V. Nadarajah, CEO and Provost, Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia
  • Professor Kirk Semple, Director for International Research, Lancaster University
  • Professor Dr Yatimah Alias, Vice-Chancellor, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA)
     

Attendees were then given an opportunity to network before a panel discussion commenced. This session explored key issues such as overcoming mistrust in building shared goals and tackling potential barriers to collaboration. The panellists concluded with a shared vision of a thriving future for transnational education.


Panel Discussion 2: Ideas on Innovative Collaborations between the UK, Malaysia, and Jiangsu (China) for Strategic Partnerships
 

Moderator:
Prabha Sundram, Head of Education, British Council
 

Panellists:

  • Professor Dr Yvonne Lim Ai Lian, Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International), University Malaya
  • Professor Alan Marshall, Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor, University of Liverpool, and UK Chair of the UK-Jiangsu World Class University Consortium
  • Professor Dr Chai Lay Ching, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education), Sunway University
  • Ms Chen Danhe, Deputy Director, Office of International Affairs, Nanjing University of Science and Technology
  • Professor Raymond Lee, Associate Dean (Global Engagement), University of Portsmouth

 

This session focused on innovative collaboration models. Prof. Dr Chai Lay Ching of Sunway University highlighted the Sunway-Lancaster partnership as an exemplary transnational collaboration model. The panellists debated the advantages of partnership-based approaches versus branch campus models, as well as shifts in modern student behaviour and how these changes could be leveraged for more effective collaboration.
 

After a networking lunch, guests participated in three breakout sessions covering topics such as student mobility and research innovation. These sessions were unique in that they resulted in tangible models for potential trilateral collaborations. One group proposed the establishment of a trilateral summer school, while another suggested the development of a digital platform to facilitate collaboration between institutions from the three regions.
 

The event concluded with a keynote speech by Prof. Andy Schofield. Reflecting on the success of the Sunway-Lancaster partnership, he conveyed a message of optimism for future collaborations between the UK, Malaysia, and Jiangsu. He also acknowledged the challenges ahead, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education, cultural differences, and international barriers. Nevertheless, he ended on a high note, reminding attendees that ‘quality rings true’ in all successful partnerships.