Pearson and Uni Malaya forge landmark partnership

Pearson, the world’s leading learning company, has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Universiti Malaya (UM) to advance UM’s internationalisation goals through a robust partnership.

This collaboration aims to facilitate student and academic staff exchanges, joint research activities, and the exchange of academic materials and information.

Pearson fostering international collaboration

The strategic alliance underscores Pearson’s commitment to supporting Malaysian universities and the government’s efforts to attract a diverse pool of international students.

The Pearson Test of English (PTE) has enabled thousands of students from over 40 nationalities across 47 countries to pursue their education in Malaysia.

Matthew Lampkin, Director PTE Asia at Pearson, said, “We are delighted to partner with Malaysia’s top university, ranked 60th in the world, to support their international education goals while also supporting Malaysia’s ambition to become a global education hub with a target to attract 250,000 international students by 2025.”

Through this MoU, Pearson and UM are also launching a scholarship programme covering GBP 3,000, alongside combining their research powers to support UM academics and students.

Strengthening educational standards in UM

Professor Dr Yatimah Alias, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic & International) of Universiti Malaya, highlighted the significance of this partnership: “Today marks a significant milestone as Universiti Malaya and Pearson Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. join hands to elevate educational standards and create boundless opportunities for our students.

This strategic partnership and the Pearson Test of English and Universiti Malaya Scholarship Campaign underscore our shared vision of nurturing talent and fostering academic excellence.

Together, we are committed to empowering our students to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.”

Pearson’s strong ties with Malaysia are further cemented through this MoU, supporting thousands of aspiring students coming to the country via the Pearson Test of English, administered at over 450 test centres in 115 countries, including six in Malaysia.

New data released by Pearson shows that 64.9% of test takers are interested in postgraduate courses, 20.5% in undergraduate courses, and 14.6% in other courses.

Lampkin emphasised the economic impact of international students choosing Malaysia as their preferred study destination: “In Malaysia, PTE Academic is accepted by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) for international student admissions into all public and private universities and colleges.”

UM’s renowned academic excellence and vibrant multicultural environment make it an ideal partner for Pearson PTE. Together, they aim to create a dynamic educational ecosystem that attracts, nurtures, and empowers students from around the world.

This partnership not only supports UM’s internationalisation goals but also contributes significantly to Malaysia’s vision of becoming a global education hub.