Malaysia experience transformational: Clare Nukui

Tuesday, 24 February 2015

The Head of Foundation Programmes at University of Reading Malaysia (UoRM), Clare Nukui, is quite experienced at working with international students.

After studying in Canada, France and the UK, her career has taken her to Nigeria, Hong Kong and Japan. She was an oral examiner for the Eiken Foundation of Japan, which produces English-proficiency tests, and has even authored an International Student Survival Guide as well as contributed to the TASK series.

But Clare describes her experience in Malaysia as transformational. “It is amazing to see how much we have achieved in such a short space of time,” she says. “When I started in September 2013, we had just 11 students enrolled to study with us and didn’t have a campus of our own. By March 2016, we expect to have up to 100 students studying at our state-of-the-art campus”.

Unlike at Reading, UoRM has two starts a year. This is because Malaysia has three separate school systems – a state school system, a Chinese vernacular system and international school system. “The rhythm of teaching in Malaysia is very different. There is hardly a week when teaching isn’t happening on the campus”.

Clare says that UoRM’s offer of “best of both worlds” – a world-class degree at an affordable price, delivered at a location convenient to students – has a strong appeal in the market. “Most students come from families that value education. They work hard on their studies and the progression rate of 85%, is the highest I have ever seen”.

What she has had to work on, though, is encouraging students to articulate their critical thinking. “I think it is just a cultural difference. Students in Malaysia respect their teachers and consider it rude to question or critique them. But we have been able to encourage them to speak up and share their opinions”.

A lot of effort has also gone into building a support system for staff. “In the UK, I had colleagues to turn to for advice, but Malaysia did not have any such structure to start with. Over the years, we have manged to build a team spirit and even have a Heads’ Group – of academic and professional services colleagues – to discuss issues and learn from each other”.

She encourages her academic colleagues to consider working in Malaysia. “The campus is beautiful, located in a rapidly developing area and offers an opportunity to experience Malay, Chinese and Indian cultures. The staff is very proud and excited to be working for the University and to have students who make you learn something new every day.”