University Secures Grant Boost for Global Learning

The University of Suffolk’s ongoing partnership with a Malaysian institution has been given a grant boost.

The £30,000 from the British Council in Malaysia will further the collaborative work between the University of Suffolk and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), the largest comprehensive university in Malaysia which jointly submitted the grant bid with the University of Suffolk.

This latest grant call was opened to build on the learnings and highly successful UK-MUC inaugural Student Conference in July this year which saw two University of Suffolk students attend, marking the first ever UOS-Malaysia student mobility opportunity and will be able to offer another student exchange to Malaysia in summer next year.

The grant will fund work under the title of “Building Sustainable Futures and Businesses Through Students: Future Leaders Cultural Exchange” and will launch on 1 December through to March 2025, undertaking a variety of Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) activities with students at both universities.

Next summer in Malaysia there will be an in-person comprehensive exchange programme for students where activities will include mini internships and immersive cultural activities.

Last year students Louisa Masters, who has since graduated in Wildlife, Ecology and Conservation Science, and Alisha Maycock, now in her second year of the BA (Hons) Childhood degree attended to conference.

Amy Carpenter, Head of Careers, Employability and Enterprise at the University of Suffolk, said: “International exchanges are a fantastic opportunity for students to immerse themselves in new cultures, connect with peers and develop and enhance skills that will increase their employability and entrepreneurial mindsets to get ahead in their future goals.

“We were extremely fortunate to be able to complete our first Malaysian exchange last summer, and we are very excited to be able to offer this again in 2024 to a brand new cohort of University of Suffolk students.”

Professor Gurpreet Jagpal, Pro Vice-Chancellor Business and Entrepreneurship at the University of Suffolk added: "Through this British Council grant I am really pleased that we continue to strengthen the partnerships between the University of Suffolk and UiTM.

“This funding builds on our existing collaboration and opens doors for increased student mobility and sees the opening of an Innovation Labs in UiTM – fostering further international connections”.

Associate Professor, Dr Wan Edura Wan Rashid, Director of the Institute of Business Excellence at the Universiti Tecknologi MARA said his institution was “deeply honoured” to receive the grant.

“This accomplishment resonates with excitement, highlighting the immense value of our international collaboration in enhancing access to Higher Education.”

Find out more about careers, employability and enterprise at the University of Suffolk.