UK Malaysia University Consortium host 80 students at inaugural conference

The UK Malaysia University Consortium (UK-MUC) held its first-ever Student Conference at the Universiti Malaya (UM) in Kuala Lumpur between 17 to 21 July, in collaboration with Universiti Putra Malaya (UPM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) and the British Council Malaysia. 

This ground-breaking event fostered academic exchange and collaboration among some 80 undergraduate students from leading universities in the UK and Malaysia, who were fully funded to participate across all five days.

The theme of the conference was ‘Intercultural Perspectives on Sustainable Development and Equality in Higher Education’. It aimed to provide a platform for students to share their research, engage in intellectual discourse and explore innovative solutions to global challenges based on United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Through a series of keynote presentations, panel discussions, and interactive workshops, the conference promoted interdisciplinary collaboration and empowered students to become agents of change in their respective fields.

The UK-MUC Student Conference is a result of a joint effort between the Consortium Secretariat based in LJMU’s Faculty of Engineering and Technology (FET), LJMU International and UK-MUC member universities in the UK and Malaysia. 

Dr Julia Wang, Director of International Relations at LJMU and Co-chair of the Consortium and the Student Conference Organiser was very proud to see UK and Malaysia students coming together in Kuala Lumpur to discuss important issues and to work together on SDGs.

“When I first raised this Student Conference idea with YBhg. Datin Noorazah Binti Omar Undersecretary, International Relations Division, Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia and Prabha Sundram, Head of Education, British Council Malaysia in May 2022, I wasn’t 100% sure this could work but I was very much encouraged by them and by LJMU PVC Tim Nichol. Fourteen months later, it actually happened!

“It has become one of the tangible outcomes of UK-Malaysia University Consortium funded by British Council. Having an idea is not difficult, but making it happen takes great teamwork. We cannot thank everyone involved enough and anticipate the Student Conference becoming an annual event.”

The conference has received support from key partners such as the British Council and the Ministry of Higher Education in Malaysia, underscoring the importance of international partnerships in driving academic excellence and cross-cultural understanding.