Work begins on our new campus in Malaysia

Wednesday, 27 February 2013

The groundbreaking ceremony for the University's Malaysia campus took place today in Johor Bahru. Representatives of the Malaysian government, IIB - the University's development partner in Malaysia and Malaysian alumni of the University were in attendance along with senior members of University staff.

Sir David Bell said at the event: "We have around 3,000 graduates from the University of Reading in Malaysia and Singapore, the majority of whom travelled to the UK to experience our unique offering, first-class resources and world-class teaching. We are therefore proud and excited to have the opportunity to deliver the same experience to students in the Asia-Pacific region at EduCity in Iskandar.

"We are consciously and proactively developing this campus to offer the best experience to students, from both the infrastructure of our facilities to the education delivered."

The groundbreaking ceremony took place at EduCity and was led by the University's Chancellor Sir John Madejski. Also in attendance were the University's Vice-Chancellor Sir David Bell, Provost and Chief Executive of the University of Reading Malaysia, Professor Tony Downes, Dr Mohamed Ali Abdul Rahman, Director, Governance Division, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Higher Education, and Datuk Syed Mohamed Ibrahim, President and CEO of Iskandar Investment Berhad.

A reception in Johor Bahru followed the groundbreaking ceremony on site and included presentations from the University, IIB and the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education.

Speaking on behalf of the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education, Dr Ali said the Ministry was delighted to be working with the University of Reading to support the development of its first overseas campus: "As a University recognised as being amongst the top 1% of universities in the world, the University of Reading is an excellent example of the type of high-calibre education provider with whom the Ministry wishes to work."

The University of Reading Malaysia campus will open in September 2015 offering programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate level in three thematic subject areas, requested by the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia: business and law, science (including pharmacy), and the built environment. It will cater for 2,000 students.

See pictures of the ceremony and artist impressions of the finished campus on our flickr stream