by NUR HANANI AZMAN/ pic credit: iskandarinvestment.com

EDUCITY Iskandar Malaysia Sdn Bhd is targeting to grow the student population at its education hub, EduCity Iskandar Malaysia in Johor, to 15,000 from 4,000 currently, driven by its new strategy — EduCity 2.0.

EduCity 2.0, to be implemented from 2021 until 2024, will include a new identity, enhancement of current facilities and addition of new institution partners, opening its doors to a new mix of institutions including schools, training companies, and research and development companies.

While the Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted the education system, it is only a short-term challenge, EduCity Iskandar MD Wan Ahmad Saifuddin Wan Ahmad Radzi said.

“South-East Asia’s population is very large and the number of people who go to study abroad is high as well.

“We’re saying to those institutions, why don’t you open in EduCity Iskandar and collaborate with us, so that they can capture the international market and international institutions can tap into our domestic market,” he told reporters after launching EduCity 2.0 yesterday.

EduCity Iskandar Malaysia is currently home to Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia, Netherlands Maritime Institute of Technology, University of Southampton Malaysia, Multimedia University, University of Reading Malaysia, Kolej MDIS Malaysia, Raffles University, Marlborough College Malaysia and Raffles American School.

The EduCity 2.0 initiative extends EduCity Iskandar’s value proposition towards creating a new learning environment.

It includes initiatives such as completing the current ecosystem (of schools and higher learning institutions) and establishing a flexible partnership model to attract potential partners.

“We are also working with enabling partners to maintain and optimise our shared facilities and enhance the student experience,” Wan Ahmad Saifuddin said.

Also announced at the launch was the establishment of EduCity International College as an avenue for a flexible partnership model, and EduCity Academy to position EduCity Iskandar as a research living lab.

Wan Ahmad Saifuddin also announced the establishment of the Reliance Aviation Academy and LEA Academy & English Centre, with the IDRISSI International School to start operating in 2021.