Professor Stephen Shute, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Planning and Resources) with University of Malaya Associate Vice-Chancellor (International), Professor Kamila Ghazali, following the Memorandum of Understanding signing

Sussex alumna Marina Mahathir (SOC 1976) giving a guest speech at the reception event in Kuala Lumpur

Sussex visited Malaysia and Singapore to strengthen partnerships and provide opportunities for staff and students in one of the most dynamic regions.

A delegation was led by Professor Stephen Shute, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Planning and Resources), and included academic leaders from the School of Business, Management and Economics and School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, as well as Professional Service staff from Development and Alumni, Global Engagement and International Recruitment.

Staff engaged with alumni networks and visited partner universities, with the aim of increasing student mobility, recruitment and collaborative research.

The visit strengthened academic links that have been established since the University opened a regional office in Malaysia in 2015, including with the University of Malaya, Taylor’s University and Nanyang Technological University (NTU).

At the University of Malaya, Professor Shute signed a Memorandum of Understanding, which will enhance research cooperation and undergraduate research training. The group also met Sussex alumni employed at the University in a variety of academic fields, including artificial intelligence and chemistry. 

Taylor’s University and NTU have become popular destinations for student mobility, with both institutions hosting Sussex students for Global Excellence and First-Generation summer schools.

At NTU, ranked 52nd in the world in 2018, Sussex also has a student exchange agreement in place. This has allowed over 20 students to benefit from study abroad since the partnership was founded two years ago. Sussex and NTU plan to invest further in links between the two universities by supporting professional staff mobility and research alliances.

The visit to the region connected Sussex staff with alumni and partners at events in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Professor Alan Dalton presented to guests the cutting-edge research in nanotechnology by the Materials Physics Group. The reception in Kuala Lumpur was attended by over 60 guests, including Sussex alumna, socio-political activist and writer Marina Mahathir (SOC 1976). Marina gave a guest speech, reminiscing fondly about her time as a student at Sussex. 

For more information on Sussex partnerships in South East Asia, contact Georgie Chesman, International Partnerships Officer (g.chesman@sussex.ac.uk).