^{From left: Hannah Birdsey, Australia’s Deputy Head of Mission to Malaysia; YB Senator Wan Ahmad Fayhsal bin Wan Ahmad Kamal, Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of National Unity; and Cassandra Tam, Education Services Director – Kuala Lumpur, Victorian Government Trade & Investment – South East Asia.}



PETALING JAYA, Nov 23 (Bernama) -- The Study Melbourne Hub Kuala Lumpur was officially launched today through a hybrid ceremony, representing the Victorian Government’s investment in global infrastructure and resources in recognition and support of Malaysian students and their significant contribution.
 
The opening was officiated by Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of National Unity YB Senator Wan Ahmad Fayhsal bin Wan Ahmad Kamal; Chief Executive Officer of Global Victoria Gönül Serbest; Victoria’s Commissioner to South East Asia Rebecca Hall; and Australia’s Deputy Head of Mission to Malaysia Hannah Birdsey.
 
Victoria is a popular study destination for Malaysian students, with approximately 7,700 Malaysian students currently enrolled in Victorian institutions, roughly one quarter currently studying from home in Malaysia due to travel restrictions.
 
The Victorian Government has chosen Kuala Lumpur as one of the two strategic locations within ASEAN to establish Study Melbourne Hubs as a direct response to the evolving nature of international education in the post-pandemic world.
 
The Study Melbourne Hub Kuala Lumpur is part of the Victorian Government’s initiative to establish a network of study hubs around the world, boosting Victoria’s connections with overseas students, future students and alumni. The hubs will also promote Victoria’s leadership in education technology (edtech) and innovation.
 
Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of National Unity, YB Senator Wan Ahmad Fayhsal, said: “As a former academic, the academia holds a special place in my heart. The establishment of the Study Melbourne Hub Kuala Lumpur is not only an avenue for better education exchanges between students, academics, and researchers, but also, for deeper cross-disciplinary collaborations that cover culture, commerce, and industry, among others.

“The establishment of this and similar hubs all over the world is a laudable effort in introducing innovation in the way we deliver education and education solutions. At the same time, it is in line with Malaysia's effort to place itself as the region's education destination of choice; as well as to improve Malaysia's own interconnectivity with the rest of the world's education ecosystem.
 
“The Study Melbourne Hub Kuala Lumpur also serves as a testament to the importance the Victorian Government places in Malaysia as an important source of its international student network. It also shows the Victorian Government’s commitment to ensuring that students are well-taken care of and that there is a place for students who are affected by the pandemic to reconnect with their peers and Victorian institutes of higher learning.
 
“I strongly believe that a university is a place for a person to explore his or her full potential, for a civilisation to prosper, and for our intellect to shape humankind's true destiny. On this, I congratulate the Victorian Government for taking this momentous step with today’s official launch of the Study Melbourne Hub Kuala Lumpur.”
 
The opening of Study Melbourne Hub Kuala Lumpur was first announced by Victorian Minister for Trade, the Hon. Martin Pakula, as part of the Victorian Government’s AUD33.4 million International Education Short Term Recovery Plan, with additional funding provided through the 2021-22 Victorian Budget over the next four years.
 
Chief Executive Officer of Global Victoria, Gönül Serbest, said: “We are so pleased to provide this innovative space that will enhance students’ remote learning experience and ensure our students and alumni in Malaysia stay connected to their education providers and to Victoria.
 
“The Study Melbourne hubs create meaningful partnership opportunities by bringing together edtech companies, investors, researchers, and education providers searching for new, high-quality edtech solutions.”
 
Ms Serbest also announced fifteen Malaysian students had received a prestigious Career Catalyst scholarship worth AUD5,000 dollars providing the opportunity to undertake job readiness training and a three-month supported virtual internship with a Victorian company.
 
The Study Melbourne Hub Kuala Lumpur is designed to provide current offshore students with support and study facilities while promoting Melbourne and Victoria to prospective students in Malaysia. It also offers networking events and activities, access to support services and programmes, and information about Melbourne and Victorian institutions for prospective students.

Victoria’s Commissioner to South East Asia, Rebecca Hall, said: “The Study Melbourne Hub Kuala Lumpur will provide a collaborative physical space for students to engage with one another, their education institution, and gain access to Study Melbourne programs.
 
“Victoria is the only Australian state or territory to provide its international students with offshore study hubs – the inaugural Study Melbourne Hub Shanghai was launched in April 2021, and another hub is scheduled to open in Ho Chi Minh City next month”.
 
Growing the international footprint of Study Melbourne will help rebuild and revitalise the international education market. For Victoria, international education is a critical services export and jobs provider that contributed AUD13.7 billion to the Victorian economy and supported around 79,000 Victorian jobs before the pandemic.
 
To learn more about the Study Melbourne Hubs, visit studymelbourne.vic.gov.au/Hubs.
 
To learn more about the Study Melbourne Hub Kuala Lumpur, visit studymelbourne.vic.gov.au/Hubs/Kuala-Lumpur.
 
NOTE TO EDITORS:
 
About Study Melbourne Hub Kuala Lumpur
 
The Study Melbourne Hub Kuala Lumpur is part of the Victorian Government’s International Education initiative to establish five hubs in key international education markets. The hub will support international students currently studying online with Victorian education institutions by providing a shared, physical location for students to connect and engage with one another; whereas prospective students will be able to access support and information on the variety of professional and lifestyle benefits of studying with a Victorian education provider.

At the Study Melbourne Hub Kuala Lumpur, education industry stakeholders will also be able to utilise the hub to organise and hold events ranging from student engagement activities, networking and social events, alumni-focused activities, research collaboration and industry engagement.