MASZLEE & EMGS Chairman VISITS EDUCITY IN ISKANDAR PUTERI, JOHOR

EMGS Chairman, Abdul Rahman Shariff, Rahman Shariff

Minister of Education, Dr. Maszlee Malik had paid a visit to EduCity in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, to get a closer look at the unique concept and education opportunities offered at the fully integrated education hub. Higher Education Department Director-General, Datin Paduka Ir. Dr. Siti Hamisah Tapsir and Chairman of Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS), Dato’ Abdul Rahman Mohamed Shariff, accompanied the minister during the half-day site visit.

“The Ministry is very pleased with the various initiatives and investments by Khazanah Nasional Berhad and Iskandar Investment Berhad (IIB) in building a comprehensive education hub in Iskandar Puteri which is also the first of its kind in Malaysia and this region. Equipped with comprehensive infrastructure, EduCity offers a “plug & play” concept in the set-up of any faculty/campus in EduCity. This makes EduCity an ideal location for any international/local university to start or expand their presence in Malaysia,” said Dr. Maszlee during his inaugural visit to EduCity.

EMGS Chairman, Abdul Rahman Shariff, Rahman Shariff

He further added that both public and private higher learning institutions must work together and share resources and responsibilities that would greatly benefit the education ecosystem especially in areas of research and development, training and apprenticeship. “Private and public institutions can also play a part in making sure that deserving, bright Malaysians will get an opportunity to receive a quality education by offering scholarships. No one should be left behind.”

EduCity currently has nine education partners; some are offering best-of-class education by opening their leading faculties at the RM800 million Iskandar Puteri campus ground. The education luminaries at EduCity are Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia (NuMed), University of Southampton Malaysia Campus (USMC), University of Reading Malaysia (UoRM), Netherlands Maritime Institute of Technology (NMIT), Multimedia University (MMU), Raffles University Iskandar (RUI), Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS), Marlborough College Malaysia (MCM) and Raffles American School (RAS). There are over 4,000 students currently pursuing their primary, secondary and tertiary education at EduCity, and the hub has produced over 3,000 graduates who have entered the local and international workforce, especially in the robust Iskandar Malaysia corridor.

Students across the institutions at EduCity share centralised facilities such as comprehensive sports facilities that include indoor and open stadiums, swimming pools, tennis and multi-purpose courts, a student village and recreational lakes within the 300-acre campus ground.

Concurring with the statement by Education Minister, Datuk Ir. Khairil Anwar Ahmad, the President/Chief Executive Officer of IIB said, “EduCity is committed to supporting the Ministry in pursuing the national education agenda. We will adapt the call by Dr. Maszlee to embark a public-private partnership in national tertiary education development. EduCity will collaborate with the Ministry to promote Malaysia as the preferred education destination internationally.”

Dr. Maszlee also spent an hour with some student representatives, the management staff of EduCity and the hub’s university partners in a simple tea session.

Source: The Iskandarian

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Sarah Azreen Abdul Samat

Sarah has over 22 years of experience in corporate finance transactions involving equity issuance, mergers and acquisitions, fundraising, corporate restructuring, and corporate valuation, amongst others. She began her career in investment banking with Malaysian International Merchant Bankers Berhad in 2001 after obtaining her professional qualifications from PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Later in her career, she joined other investment banking institutions in Malaysia such as AmInvestment Bank Berhad, Maybank Investment Bank Berhad and RHB Investment Bank Berhad.

Presently, Sarah sits as Non-Independent Non-Executive Director of Reneuco Berhad and Independent Director of Pharmaniaga Berhad. She is currently the Executive Director of 3p Capital Advisers Sdn. Bhd., a company licensed with the Securities Commission Malaysia to provide advisory services to the capital market players.

Tuan Haji Ismail Bin Mohamed

Tuan Haji Ismail Mohamed sits on the Board of Director for Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS). He obtains his Bachelor Degree in Business Administration from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).

Prior to sitting on the EMGS Board, he was also appointed to be the Board of Director to KEJORA from 2013 to 2018, and several companies such as Permodalan Darul Takzim Sdn Bhd, Perbadanan Usahawan Johor Sdn Bhd, PIJ Holding and Ranhil SAJ Sdn Bhd. Tuan Haji Ismail Mohamed also co-founded Pertama.

He started his career by setting up a company and being the founder of JYBB Enterprise. His career came to prominence when he became the co-founder and the Chief Executive Officer of Pertama Polyerethane Technology (M) Sdn Bhd and subsequently became the Special Officer to the Minister of Education in 2013.

Ismail Mohamed is acknowledged for his expertise in Agriculture and Agro-based industry, landing him being appointed as the Chairman of the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Committee of the Johor State, the Chairman of Agro KEJORA and the Chairman of the Johor State Agriculture, Agro-based industry, Entrepreneurial Development and Cooperatives Committee.