Sunway University in Malaysia celebrates over 15 years of partnership with Lancaster University of the UK. The UK Higher Education Statistics Agency reports that more Malaysians have chosen the Sunway-Lancaster programmes for their UK degree than any other local university partnership with a UK institution.
FOR many years now, Malaysian students have had a special connection with the United Kingdom when it comes to higher education.
The option and opportunity to obtain a UK degree has always appealed to Malaysian students seeking an international qualification.
It is now evident that one UK degree available in Malaysia has clearly become “the nation’s choice”. This degree represents the culmination of the long-standing Sunway University-Lancaster University partnership since 2006.
Having just recently celebrated over 15 years of collaboration, this is one of the most successful transnational higher educational partnerships in the world. Its ever-growing popularity has rightfully seen it now recognised – officially – as the nation’s choice and it’s easy to see why.
Official statistics of the UK’s Higher Education Statistics Agency report that more Malaysians have chosen the partnership of Lancaster University and Sunway University for their UK degree than any other local university partnership with a UK institution.
This is supported by the huge spike in interest in the Lancaster University degree at Sunway University here as it sees no sign of letting up anytime soon.
In fact, for three consecutive years the numbers enrolling at Sunway University for a UK degree is the highest among any local university offering a UK degree.
In addition to being Malaysia’s top university in graduate employability, Sunway University is also recognised as a leading Times Higher Education-listed non-government linked and not-for-profit private university – ranking among the top 2% of higher education institutions in Asia. This brings the dream of Sunway Group founder Tan Sri Dr Jeffrey Cheah to see Sunway University develop into the “Harvard of the East” one step closer.
The Sunway-Lancaster partnership means that in addition to graduating with a top 10 UK degree from Lancaster University, students will also receive a degree from Sunway University.
With two degrees for the price of one, it also provides parents with a desirable economic solution during these challenging financial times.
Sunway University and Lancaster University first entered into a partnership with the ambition of enabling Sunway students to receive a Lancaster degree, in addition to their Sunway degree without having to leave home.
Tens of thousands of Malaysian students have benefited from obtaining globally recognised qualifications right here on Malaysian shores without having to deal with the costs and arrangements of studying overseas.
Additionally, students also enjoy the support network of family and friends as it provides a positive infrastructure conducive to an effective learning environment and outcome.
Sunway University has industry panels that advise on programmes to ensure their course syllabuses are up to industry standards. It is the first non-government linked private Malaysian university to attain the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) Accreditation 2023, which all business schools worldwide aspire to.
Sunway University has attracted more than 300 companies coming to campus and a total of 4,000 companies in its internship portal to date, granting opportunities for valuable first-hand experience that ensures students have the best chance at success even before they graduate – a sentiment shared by Sunway University president Prof Sibrandes Poppema.
Sunway University president Prof Sibrandes Poppema attributes the university’s fast ascent up the various official university rankings to the strategic partnership between Sunway and Lancaster University.
Prof Poppema points out that Lancaster University was the rational choice partner 15 years ago as they had also made the same journey as a young institution, like Sunway.
“The partnership is a major factor that has helped Sunway University rank highly in various world university rankings so quickly,” he says.
Lancaster University vice-chancellor Prof Andy Schofield is extremely proud of the partnership with Sunway University, commenting that the past 15 years have been fruitful in achieving much in the area of teaching and learning.
Lancaster University vice-chancellor Prof Andy Schofield looks forward to further collaborations with Sunway University, as both parties have established a joint research institute on the future of cities.
Prof Schofield looks forward to further collaborations through joint staff appointments, research projects and research funding bids, as Sunway and Lancaster have established a joint research institute dealing with the future of cities – an exciting initiative building on Cheah’s visionary work in the field of sustainability.
