What the Papers Say

20 March 2008 - Independent

From Malaysia to Mayfair

The overseas student market is worth millions of pounds to Britain, but the competition is increasing from private universities and companies. Are we in danger of falling behind?

A stone's throw from the Ritz Hotel in the heart of London's Mayfair district lies an extraordinary new educational institution – a private Malaysian university which has opened a campus in Britain. This is the first foreign university from outside the United States to establish itself in the United Kingdom with the aim of competing with British institutions for the lucrative overseas student market – and it is sending out shivers in the higher education world.

Limkokwing University of Creative Technology set up shop in Piccadilly, next to the Cavalry and Guards Club, a year ago with hundreds of Malaysian and other students at any one time studying courses in design, business, IT, multimedia, and communications, media and broadcasting. Its presence has caused British universities to sit up and take notice of the threat that could be posed by an entrepreneurial and flexible outsider prepared to invest large sums in a business in Britain. The University of Chicago already has a presence in the UK and is seen as a threat. Could Limkokwing be one too?

Back to news page