New Zealand's University Of Waikato Keen To Collaborate With Malaysian Universities

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 (Bernama) -- The University of Waikato, a public research university in Hamilton, New Zealand, has expressed interest to partner with Malaysian universities and educational institutions to provide quality education and research opportunities. Vice-Chancellor of Waikato University, Prof Neil Quigley, expressed this in a meeting with the President of New Zealand Malaysian Business Association (NZMBA) Dave Ananth and Managing Partner of Stace Hammond Lawyers, the oldest law firm in Hamilton, Patrick Wilson, held at the campus recently, according to a statement made available to Bernama. Quigley, in the statement, said New Zealand has been catering to Malaysian students for a very long time – since the 1960s – primarily through the Colombo Plan, which is an intergovernmental programme designed to strengthen relationships within Asia and the Pacific. “The University of Waikato in Hamilton is keen to partner with Malaysian universities and educational institutes on twinning and educational and research opportunities. Malaysian students are excellent, disciplined, and hard-working,” he said. New Zealand, which shares 65 years of diplomatic relations with Malaysia in 2022, has a long-standing history with Malaysian students under the Colombo Plan – where the plan allowed Malaysian students to further their education in the island country. The statement said the last two years during the COVID-19 pandemic have been a challenge for universities in attracting foreign students; and in the post-COVID, New Zealand tertiary institutes are working to attract more students from Malaysia as part of the country’s efforts to promote it as a first choice destination for world-class education. Dave, a Malaysian-born senior tax lawyer based in New Zealand, said the COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine have drastically changed the global landscape where the island country is seen as a safe haven for families and students who do not want to be caught in unstable world affairs. “The number of people applying to come to study in New Zealand is growing, now that our borders are open,” he said, stressing that Malaysians should explore other areas of study including marine science, farming, agriculture, and food production. -- BERNAMA