We are delighted to announce that University of Reading was named the winner of the UK-Malaysia Education Institutional Partnership Award 2023. University of Reading bagged this award for their partnership with University Tun Abdul Razak (UTAR) in implementing Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics Research and Training Unit (N2RTU) which resulted in a cross-border linkage between the UK and Malaysia on capacity building, industrial linkages and student mobility programmes. Their strategic alliance has birthed the MONEY project which helped to utilise available resources from both countries to identify ground-breaking results to aid Malaysia overcomes the obesity epidemic. The implementation of N2RTU has initiated more competitive gene and gut microbiome testing laboratories that use high throughput technologies to make genetic analysis available and affordable to generate large data sets that are required for precision nutrition practice. In addition, a Ministry of Health Research Grant has been developed through the discussion between UK-UTAR experts with the Research Heads from the Malaysia’s Ministry of Health to conduct a national-level study on Adolescent Obesity.

Along with University of Reading, there were 4 other UK universities shortlisted for this award with their on-going collaborations with local partners in Malaysia:

1. University of Cambridge’s partnership with Universiti Malaya on multidisciplinary research on algae cells to generate bioelectricity was recognised and celebrated as the first runner up of the award. Their research collaboration has evolved into a transdisciplinary collaboration through knowledge exchange and cultivation between UK-Malaysia beyond the Newton-Ungku Omar Fund.

2. The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) is the second runner up of the award for their strategic alliance with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) in surgical education, assessment, and professional development, especially the establishment of the RCSEd’s international office in the UKM premise which has led to greater collaboration with other universities globally. 

3. University of Surrey and Universiti Putra Malaysia for their continuous collaboration on the Animal Neighbours Project (ANP) in engaging local communities and government agencies to ensure better management of wildlife and raising awareness of responsible tourism and positive human-wildlife interaction amongst UK-Malaysia students.

4. University of Glasgow and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) for the establishment of the Euro-Asian MBA-MSc programme where students are allowed to combine a one-year Master in Business Administration from USM with a one-year Master in Science degree from University of Glasgow. The partnership has enabled both partners to access several new markets beyond Southeast Asia.

About UK-Malaysia Education Institutional Partnership Award

This outstanding award goes to a partnership between a UK higher or further education institution and a Malaysian organisation(s) to deliver significant impact in the last 5 years. The joint-venture collaboration and synergies created through this partnership will have driven exceptional results and shown significant value-creation to the education sector in Malaysia and the UK; capitalising on the best of UK & Malaysia expertise through a seamless partnership. This is the second year British Council sponsored the UK-Malaysia Education Institutional Partnership Award 2023 in partnership with the British Malaysia Chamber of Commerce as part of prestigious Business Excellence Awards (BEA).