Transforming Asia’s learning landscape

EDUCITY Iskandar Malaysia, dubbed as Asia’s first education city based in Johor, announced its initiatives to reimagine a new learning environment in the years to come.

Its new strategy “EduCity 2.0: Beyond Asia’s First Education City” aims to change the landscape of education and position itself as a unique destination among other global players.

On track for implementation from 2021 to 2024, its plans include a new identity, enhancement of current facilities as well as the addition of new and mixed institution partners such as schools, training companies as well as research and development companies.

Once established, the new EduCity International College will serve as an avenue for a flexible partnership model while EduCity Academy will position EduCity Iskandar as a centre for living lab research.

These innovative approaches will complete the education city ecosystem and aim to strengthen strategic business partnership and opportunities for existing and future EduCity Iskandar partners.

EduCity Iskandar Malaysia chairman Datuk Khairil Anwar Ahmad said EduCity Iskandar would continue to serve as a catalyst development driven by Iskandar Investment Bhd (IIB) as a fully integrated education city to compliment IIB’s promoted sectors.

“The best-in-class faculties in EduCity Iskandar are expected to be a feeder of talents to support Iskandar Malaysia’s various economic activities while grooming the future generation of leaders, ” he said.

He added that EduCity was a unique gateway to students in Asia because of its strategic location within the growth triangle of Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia and was well connected to major cities in the region such as Kuala Lumpur and Singapore via land, sea, air and rail.

EduCity 1.0 was launched in 2009 and is currently home to nine learning institutions comprising Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia, Netherlands Maritime Institute of Technology, University of Southampton Malaysia, Multimedia University, University of Reading Malaysia, Kolej MDIS Malaysia, Raffles University, Marlborough College Malaysia and Raffles American School.

EduCity Iskandar plays a significant part in developing the education sector of Iskandar Malaysia, along with the education cluster’s multiplier effects on the local economy.

“EduCity 2.0 is an expansion plan where we extend our value proposition towards creating a new learning environment as well as positioning EduCity Iskandar as a destination, ” said EduCity Iskandar Malaysia managing director Wan Ahmad Saifuddin Wan Ahmad Radzi.

“A few initiatives include completing our current ecosystem and establishing a flexible partnership model to attract potential partners as well as working with enabling partners to maintain and optimise our shared facilities to enhance student experience, ” he said.

EduCity Iskandar will also be hosting Future Education Summit 2021 for partners to share innovations initiated at EduCity with the aim of contributing towards advancements in global education.

Wan Ahmad Saifuddin also announced that Reliance Aviation Academy and the LEA Academy & English Centre would begin operating later this year followed by Idrissi International School in 2021.

Talks are also underway with a traditional Chinese medicine university.

“We chose EduCity Iskandar as our new destination for Idrissi International School because of the complete ecosystem, ” said Gains Education chief executive officer Zaliza Alias.

Gains Education is a holding company for Idrissi school.

“The facilities like the various accommodation choices at EduCity Village, world-class EduCity Sports Complex and EduCity Hub as the student-centric centre make our students and staff feel at home.”

EduCity’s Sports Complex, with an indoor arena, a main outdoor stadium and an aquatic centre featuring an Olympic-size pool is set to be the venue for a number of Sukma and Para Sukma Games next year.

Source : https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2020/08/24/transforming-asias-learning-landscape