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Ireland-Malaysia higher education agreement to provide platform for institutional collaboration
Minister of State for Training and Skills, Ciaran Cannon T.D. today begins an official visit to Malaysia and Singapore on behalf of the Government.
The main purpose of the visit is to sign a new education agreement with the Ministry of Higher Education in Malaysia.
Speaking today in Kuala Lumpar, Minister Cannon said, "Malaysia is one of our most important international education partners, with over 1,500 Malaysian students coming to Ireland each year, contributing more than €43m to our economy.
"Over the years we have developed strong relationships in the field of medical education with the Government of Malaysia, and this new agreement will allow us to expand that co-operation into other disciplines including in areas of interest to the Malaysian authorities, where Ireland has strong capabilities such as biotech and green tech".
The Government has set a target to double the number of international students coming to Ireland by 2016.
The Minister will also represent the Government at the installation of the Chancellor of the new Perdana University in Kuala Lumpar, where the undergraduate medical degree will be offered by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI).
Highlighting the importance of the long standing medical education links between Malaysia and Ireland Minister Cannon said "RCSI's major contribution to medical and surgical training in Ireland and abroad has been of huge economic benefit to Ireland and testament to the excellent reputation of Ireland's educational institutions worldwide and RCSI's in particular.
"I am also delighted to welcome the new twinning arrangement with Irish Universities which will see UCC and NUIG welcome fifty new Malaysian students to their universities this year."
During the visit Minister Cannon will also witness a number of contract signing ceremonies related to education and to Irish software and manufacturing companies.
Minister Cannon will travel on to Singapore where he will visit the Nanyang Technological University.
He will also present certificates of completion to Farmleigh Fellowship scholars in Nanyang Business School.