Official Launch of Limkokwing University London
You have done us proudYB Dato’ Seri Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi I have been persuaded by my friend, Tan Sri Lim Kok Wing, that I must come to London to officiate at the opening of the new campus. I asked him what if I were not able to do that and could not come. He said he would postpone yet to another day. I have no way of avoiding it except that I must accept this invitation to come to London to perform this very important task. I have known Lim Kok Wing for many years. We were together in the Malaysian Vocational Association before. That was in the early seventies. I was the chairman and he was the treasurer. I had to give instructions and he had to look for the money. The reason was we needed to promote programmes to provide skills training and employment for the young people. Limkokwing has always been interested in young people and has always been interested in education, particularly in the area of providing them with skills training. So he has realized his ambition really when he set up the Limkokwing University in Kuala Lumpur and asked me to officiate at the opening.
I must congratulate him on being very passionate, but I never believed he would be expanding so quickly, building more and more campuses overseas, and you seem to be in a real hurry. I don’t know why, for a man who has passion and who is inspired to do something, I think that must be the reason why you are trying to do so much in a short time. It was only three years ago when I officiated at the opening of your main campus. Today, you have campuses abroad and today you have established linkages with many universities, including universities in the UK. I would like to congratulate you. Your success in many ways I can consider as an example of the visualization of creativity and innovation – your best subjects.
You have done us proud. Many years ago, under the Colombo Plan, hundreds of Malaysian students came to the UK to study at various universities. Some have gone to Australia, some have gone to New Zealand, some have gone to Canada. We have benefited in many ways from the excellent opportunities for higher education our students had when they were here. I have always wondered whether one day students from England would go to Malaysia to study. Today, because of you Lim Kok Wing, many students from the UK are studying in Malaysia.
I would like to thank you for asking me to once again officiate at the opening of another campus – this campus in London. What I am particularly happy is that you have already entered into some kind of agreement, of some understanding or collaboration, with some universities in the UK, and you wanted me to witness that you are telling me the truth – not only a dream. That dream has become a reality. That is another son you should have asked the girl to sing for you. And I would like to say “thank you” to the British universities that have responded to Limkokwing’s proposal to have this collaboration and I hope it will be another example, a good example, to other Malaysian students, other Malaysian universities to follow. And I am particularly happy that you have decided to set aside a certain sum of money in scholarship fun – RM10 million. RM10 million is too small in our exchange rate – in British pounds and Malaysian ringgit today.
Anyway, it’s a very good gesture and I was particularly touched when I was told by Lim Kok Wing that the parents of these students who have come here, to send the students here, their children here, to study are moved. They even cried because these parents come from rural areas. They never dreamt that one day their children would be studying in England.
I am not saying there are no Malaysian rural students studying in England. Thousands of them had already come here, most of them have come here on government scholarships and not many have come on their own. But you are ones of those who are always giving opportunities to out young people to study here, not with a government scholarship. It’s a private sector scholarship and I am sure the gesture would go a long way and the students certainly would appreciate what you have done for them.
Thank you, Lim Kok Wing. This event is made more significant as it coincides with Malaysia’s Golden Jubilee this year. I am sure that this is a proud moment for Tan Sri Lim and the University that he helms. But it is also a proud moment for Malaysia and Malaysians. I say this because the establishment of Limkokwing University London marks the first time a Malaysian university has succeeded in expanding its reach to the UK. This event is made more significant as it coincides with Malaysia’s Golden Jubilee this year.
Indeed, 50 years after independence, education in Malaysia can be said to have gone full circle. While we used to send most of our students to study abroad, and still do so for quite a number, more and more foreign students are now coming to Malaysia to study. Today, Malaysia is among the most important providers of international education, together with other countries like the UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Currently Malaysia plays host to about 50,000 foreign students from more than 150 countries. We aspire to become a regional centre of excellence for education and are aiming to double the number of foreign students in the country to 100,000 by the year 2010.
Ladies and Gentlemen Crucial to our success in becoming a regional centre for education is the role of Malaysia’s private sector universities and colleges. The bulk of foreign students in Malaysia are enrolled in the private sector universities and colleges. This is one branch of education where we see dynamism and innovation. In order to ensure success, the quality of education that is delivered must be of the highest standard – conforming to, or event, surpassing, global standards. We cannot compromise on this this as this is the only way to compete and be among the best in the world. Three years ago, when I officiated the opening of Limkokwing University’s main campus in Cyberjaya, Malaysia I had expressed my hope that this private university would develop into one of the best in the world. I am pleased to see that it has made some achievement towards that aspiration. Today Limkokwing University is recognized as one of the leading universities of its kind. In fact, I am told that the university now has campuses in six countries on three continents, with a total of 16,000 students. It has also built up a collegial network of more than 160 universities and colleges spread over more than 70 countries. I view the presence of Limkokwing University in other countries has created a positive image for Malaysian education. With its wide network of partner institutions, Limkokwing University’ presence abroad provides a strong platform to spearhead the globalization of Malaysian education. The University’s international presence plays a major role in securing recognition abroad for the high quality of Malaysian education.
Therefore I would like to take this opportunity to encourage other Malaysian universities that have the requisite criteria and are ready to go international to do so. My government will continue to lend strong support to such initiatives. Ladies and Gentlemen Innovation and creativity are the new value creators in the 21st century. Increasingly the most innovative individuals and companies are also the most successful. I believe that this also true for entire countries. That is why we in Malaysia re taking firm steps toward strengthening our capacity for innovation and for knowledge-creation. This includes among others, forging closer university and industry links, increasing commercialization of R&D activities, as well as improving the legal framework for intellectual property rights protection. As innovation and creativity are embodied in people, my government is also prioritizing human capital development through improvements in education and training. This year, my government has launched two strategic plans to upgrade and strengthen education delivery at the school and university level, respectively. Underpinning both plans is the goal of developing world-class human capital with the appropriate knowledge, skills, attitude and moral fibre to compete successfully in the global arena.
I am happy to note that the Limkokwing University is well placed to capitalize on the global demand for quality education, particularly in subjects related to innovation and creativity. I understand that the university specializes in many subjects related to these fields.
Furthermore besides possessing the relevant skills and competencies, I strongly believe that to succeed in a globalised world, one must also have a global outlook. Indeed, getting people to “think global” has been an important agenda for my country as we continue to drive our national mission to become a developed country by the year 2020.
In Malaysia, we are very fortunate to have a diverse ethnic population consisting of Malays, Chinese, Indians and various other indigenous groups. Out ethnic and cultural diversity forms an ideal basis on which to “think global” that is to say, we are well acquainted with and have a deep appreciation of, multi-culturalism. This I believe is an important asset to succeed in a globalised world. I am pleased to note that this multi-culturalism is being encouraged at the Limkokwing University. At the University’s main campus in Cyberjaya, for example, more than half of the student population consists of foreign students. This and other similar examples in Malaysia provide a strong environment for creating truly world-class human capital capable of taking the country to even greater heights. I understand that the Limkokwing University has gone one step further, and has recently introduced the “Global Classroom” concept. Under this concept, not only is cultural diversity encouraged, but students are also encouraged to learn in different countries en route to completing their degrees.
Basically it is a learning experience that is especially designed for globally-focused graduates keen to tackle the challenges of a global marketplace. I am certain that this kind of exposure would greatly contribute to the development of confident and accomplished graduates that will be an asset in any workplace. This is the ultimate goal of Malaysia’s education policy and I am pleased that through efforts such as these we are closer to achieving our ambitions.
Ladies and Gentlemen While it is important that Malaysians learn about other cultures and business practices, we must also take steps to educate others about our own unique culture and practices. I would therefore like to commend the Limkokwing University establishing a Centre for Malay Studies here at the London campus of the University. The aim of this centre is to promote the study and research of Malay culture, arts, customs, heritage and language.
In addition the University has also set up the “Think Malaysia Business Centre” to provide information on various issues, including business and investment opportunities, tourism and education opportunities and even the “Malaysia My Second Home” programme. Essentially the “Think Malaysia” centre will serve as a point of contact between Malaysian business people and potential foreign partners. I am confident that these two centres will be able to promote greater awareness of Malaysia among our foreign friends. Therefore I hope that these two centres will work closely with existing Malaysian government agencies here towards providing seamless and high quality information services to all potential visitors and partners from the United Kingdom and beyond. Ladies and Gentlemen Before I conclude, I would like to once again congratulate the Limkokwing University on the opening of its London campus. I am confident that the university will continue to play a leading role in developing skilled human capital in the creative fields for the benefit of Malaysia and the rest of the world.
On that note, it is now my great privilege to officially declare the Limkokwing University, London open. |
