EduCity in the rapidly developing Iskandar Malaysia region in the state of Johor brings together prestigious international and local institutions of higher learning, recreational facilities and student housing within a 120-hectare enclave.
Developed by EduCity Iskandar Malaysia Sdn Bhd (a member of the Iskandar Investment Bhd Group of Companies) at a cost of RM850mil, this “city of knowledge” is strategically-located at the heart of South-East Asia.
In 2011, Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia opened its doors at EduCity; University of Southampton Malaysia in 2012, offering its engineering programmes; and, University of Reading Malaysia in 2015 offering several of its leading faculties.
In between, the Netherlands Maritime Institute of Technology opened in 2012, and Malaysia-based Multimedia University’s Faculty of Cinematic Arts in 2014.
By the end of 2017, the Management Development Institute of Singapore will welcome students to its spanking new 12-hectare multi-faculty complex in EduCity.
Another Singaporean tertiary education provider, Raffles University Iskandar, has earmarked a sizeable plot in EduCity and the institution will offer design programmes, among others.
At present, the student population at EduCity is 4,000 and is set to grow further. EduCity is expected to take in as many as 20,000 students from Malaysia and the region.
“EduCity is poised to become a leading education hub attracting students from all over the world,” says EduCity COO Sugumaran Kailasan.
“For the longest time, Malaysians have ventured overseas to pursue higher education. Now, it will be the other way round with students from elsewhere coming to us.”
The first cohort of graduates from EduCity was in 2015, and to date, about 600 students have completed their studies.
“With EduCity, students gain the same internationally-recognised qualifications from these top universities, without having to leave the country and worry about the volatile foreign exchange rate,” says EduCity managing director Joanne Oei.
In designing EduCity, much effort was put into providing shared recreational facilities.
Its sports complex features a 6,000-seat stadium with full-size football pitch and IAAF-certified track, and a 488-seat aquatic centre with an eight-lane Olympic-size pool.
The 1,500-seat indoor arena has multi-purpose courts for basketball, badminton, netball, floorball, futsal and table tennis.
There are outdoor tennis and volleyball courts, and a gym offering personal trainers and zumba classes.
For student accommodation, the Student Village is a 12-storey apartment complex with 800 beds, while facilities include cafetaria, launderette, kitchenette, surau, TV room, study areas, lounge area and free WiFi.
For more information on EduCity, go to www.iskandarinvestment.com.
This article is brought to you by EduCity.
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