Economic booster

AT the recent British Council “Going Global” 2016 conference in South Africa, (which discussed global issues faced by the international education community), economic consultancy BiGGAR Economics reported that the Heriot-Watt University campus in Dubai has raked in over RM540.2 million per year, benefiting the country’s economy.
BASIS
The positive impact the Dubai campus has had on the economy, especially in recent years, has been recognised. It led to the opening of the Heriot-Watt University Putrajaya campus.
“The experience the university has gained in the successful establishment of the Dubai campus paves the way for similar success here in Malaysia,” said Heriot-Watt University Malaysia vice-principal Prof Bob Craik (pix).
Hoping to replicate the success of its Dubai campus, Craik also spoke of the university’s close ties with the Malaysian government. “We want to help establish Malaysia as a major hub for international education and to bring programmes and research, which help build capacity and support local economic growth and development.”
RATIONALE
In fact, Pemandu’s (NKRA) education director Tengku Nurul Azian mentioned that Heriot-Watt’s Malaysian campus is one of 149 Entry Point Projects (EPPs) under the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) which was launched in 2010 to transform Malaysia into a high-income nation by 2020. Delighted to hear of the success of the campus, Nurul also lauded the university for its progress in such a short span of time.
FACT
Established in September 2014, the Putrajaya campus has a strong student enrolment of 1,000 and faculty staff of 138. “We are looking forward to the long-term contribution the campus, its students and graduates will make as they apply their new-found knowledge and skills in the development of industry, business and the professions in Malaysia and abroad. It is fantastic to know that part of Malaysia’s future success will be, in some part, in the hands of Heriot-Watt graduates,” Nurul said.
ASPIRATION
The report further indicated that the economic impact of the Dubai campus improved 300% since last announced in 2011.
On that note, Craik stated, “We hope the Malaysian campus will make a comparable contribution to the local economy and show significant economic impact in terms of direct and indirect jobs, lifetime contribution of our graduates, and other forms of spending.” Visit the university website for more information.