FEBRUARY 2016 - Issue 1 - Edition 47

Taylor's Architecture Students Invited Back to to Exhibit Their Winning Projects Taylor's University architecture students who had won awards for their “Smart Green Cities” project in mid-2015 were invited back to China to participate in the Grand Finals Exhibition of the 14th National Challenge Cup in November 2015.

(L-R): The Winning Student Team - Lim Yee Zhing, Ong Wei Hoow, The winning trophies awarded to SABD Lau Hao Shun & David Koo Mei Da with Dr. Nikhil Joshi (centre) students at the 14th National Challenge Cup theme-based competition on “Smart Green Cities” held at HKUST in July 2015

Taylor's University architecture students who had won awards for their projects ‘Wheels of Change’ and ‘Transformative Monsoon Flow’ were invited back to China to exhibit their ideas and work. The five final-year students from the School of Architecture, Building, and Design (SABD) had initially entered the 14th National Challenge Cup theme-based competition on “Smart Green Cities” back in July 2015. The students won three prizes in that competition, and as a result were then invited back to participate in the Grand Finals Exhibition of the 14th National Challenge Cup 2015. This event was co-hosted by Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and also Guangdong University of Technology in Guangzhou (China) in November, 2015. The National Challenge Cup is China’s foremost innovation and technology competition for university students to present their scientific and technological inventions. Each year, more than 2.5 million students from over 3,000 institutions nationwide compete in qualifying rounds, and international institutions can only be invited to participate. The SABD students who participated in the Exhibition were David Koo Mei Da, Lim Yee Zhing, Lau Hao Shun, and Ong Wei Hoow. Dr. Nikhil Joshi who accompanied the students said that “the Grand Finals Exhibition was a valuable and interactive platform for Taylor’s students to share and learn from 6,000 – 7,000 international participating students representing 400 institutions from varied cultures and social-economic background.” The School of Engineering at Taylor's University also had another two teams competing at this event. All students not only participated in the Exhibition, but also had an opportunity to explore some of Guangzhou’s best technology and cultural centres as part of the post-Exhibition tour. It was definitely a unique experience for the students to make new friends and experience China. To find out more about the School of Architecture, Building, and Design click here.

Taylor’s students enjoying post-Exhibition tour with other participating students

Taylor's University Engineering Partnership with the University of Birmingham Leads to a Two-Way Partnership

For many years Malaysia has been sending students to complete their studies in the UK. But now UK students, are coming to Taylor's University in KL. The School of Engineering has been at the forefront of developing such two-way staff and student linkages with the University of Birmingham

Kostas Gkatzionis (back left) with University of Birmingham Students and Prof Perry Hobson, PVC-GE at TU (centre) during their cultural immersion exercise at TU

The School of Engineering at Taylor's University has had strong articulation links with the the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of Birmingham (UoB) for many years. The close connection between the two institutions has not only seen several hundred Malaysian students articulate to the UoB to complete their degrees, but it has emerged into a partnership that is now also seeing British students coming to Taylor's University. Over the last year several academic staff from UoB have also visited Taylor's University to learn more about our unique project-based teaching and learning approaches we use in engineering. UoB staff who have visited Taylor's University have included Dr. Kostas Gkatzionis who came with a group of twelve of their engineering students to Malaysia for 3-weeks. These students worked collaboratively with eighteen Taylor's University students to develop a number of innovations to go into a new house for an Orang Asli-family. As part of the project, the students also raised over two thousand pounds through Crowdfunder, and also jointly built an Epic Home. Given the closeness of the linkages between the two institutions, the Dean of the School of Engineering at Taylor's University Prof. Mushtak Al- Atabi has been appointed to an Honorary Chair in the School of Mechanical Engineering in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, at the University of Birmingham. Other UoB staff who have come to Taylor's University

Prof Mushtak-Al tabi, Dean SoE at TU (left) with include Dr. Neil Cooke and Dr. Kylee Dr Neil Cooke, Lecturer at UoB Goode.

Finally, the University of Birmingham and Taylor's University have also co- operatively launched the Global Alliance Challenge to focus their expertise on finding global engineering solution to the challenges the world faces. The University of Birmingham noting that "Global Challenge Alliance represents a new chapter with one of the University’s most trusted and important international partners. Our relationship stretches back many years and has seen a two-way flow of students, staff and research collaborations". The Associate Dean International for the School of Engineering, Veena A. Doshi, commented that, "Over the years both universities have continued to invest in this international relationship - one that is of increasing importance given the globalised world we live in". To learn more about the School of Engineering at Taylor's University click here.

Taylor's University Extends Education and Research Links with Province, China Guizhou Province has been designated by the Government of China as the lead- province with ASEAN. Taylor's University has been exploring various co-operation possibilities with several universities in the Province, and three potential partner universities recently came to visit the Lakeside Campus.

Guizhou Province, in south-east China has been designated as the lead-Province to engage with ASEAN. Taylor's University was pleased to welcome three Chinese universities from the Province – namely University, Tongren Polytechnic College, and – to our Taylor's University Lakeside Campus with representatives from their Provincial Ministry of Education. The purpose of the visit was to follow-up on some earlier visits and preliminary discussions. MoU agreements have already been singed with Guizhou Normal University, of Finance and Economics (GUFE), , Tongren Polytechnic College, and also Guizhou Minzu University. On this occasion an MoU was signed with Professor Jiao Yan, Vice President of Guiyang University. Currently, there is considerable mutual interest in furthering the links in bio-technology research and tourism. In particular, Taylor's University has been in discussion with Guizhou Normal University for developing a PhD in tourism.

Prof. Jiao Yan, VP Guiyang University and Prof. Hassan, VC Taylor's University

There will be a follow-up visit from Guizhou University of Finance and Economics (GUFE) in the near future. This delegation from China was led by Mr Dai Qi-ping, the Deputy-General of the Guizhou Provincial Education Department. The VC and DVC of Taylor's University have already visited Guizhou Province on more than one occasion, and Taylor's looks forward to participating in the 9th China- ASEAN Education Co-Operation Week later in 2016.

Representatives from Guiyang and Guizhou Minzu Universities, University, Tongren Polytechnic College, Guizhou Provincial Education Dept (China) and Taylor's University

Riding the Waves of Disruption - How will you SHINE? Taylor's Professors Address Tourism Forum in Bangkok Technology has already disrupted many industries, and the hotel and tourism industries are going to be no exception, Today's graduates need a range of graduate capabilities that will allow them to continue to SHINE and this is what Taylor's University has developed to give our graduates an edge in dealing with the future

(L-R) Dr. Kaye Chin HK PolyU (SAR-China), Dr. Peter Kim, AUT (NZ), Khun Veera, CEO of Dusit Thani College Dr. Vik Nair, TU (Malaysia) with Vangie Timbang, Santo Tomas and Prof. Perry Hobson, PVC- GE of TU Univ (Philippines)

Two Professors from Taylor's University, Dr. Vik Nair and Dr. Perry Hobson, were recently invited to give their thoughts on "Hospitality and Tourism Trends" and "Attributes Needed for Hospitality Professionals" at a recent Panel Forum for students at Dusit Thani College (DTC) a in Bangkok (Thailand). Professor Perry Hobson, focused on a number of trends that were impacting the industry – such as the disruption being caused by new business models and competitors (eg. Uber and Airbnb), the adoption of new self-service check- in technologies and the arrival of robots for use in hospitality. Professor Vik Nair, from the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts (HTCA) picked up on these points and the need for graduates to have a different set of skills. He focused on what Taylor;s University has been doing with the development of its Taylor's Graduate Capabilities Framework and the Taylor's SHINE second transcript initiative. He pointed out that, "it's through having launched such initiatives that we believe will better equip our students for a more uncertain future". This Forum was held as part of the mid-year meeting for the Asia- Pacific hospitality and tourism educators association (APacCHRIE) in preparation of the annual research conference and youth conference in May. Both Taylor's academics sit on the APacCHRIE Board. Taylor's University has hosted the APacCHRIE annual conference twice, and last year won the Pacific Asia Travel Association PATA-Grand Award. For more about the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts, click here.

Value of Foreign-Born University Leaders is Rising Internationally In his inaugural speech as president of Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, Benjamin Akande spoke of a world that is "rapidly shifting", a world that is "harsh and competitive" and a world that is "empowering and liberating". As he encouraged the campus community he now leads to move toward what he calls a "Yes World", his message was ultimately one of hope and possibility on a global scale. Akande joins an ever-expanding and diversifying club of US university presidents who were born outside the 50 states. In New Jersey, Seton Hall University's president is from the Philippines; Stevens Institute of Technology’s is from Iran. Two years ago, a native of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago was named president of Howard University, a historically black college in Washington, DC. And within the past five years, natives of India have been tapped to lead a number of large US research universities, including the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, the University of California at San Diego, Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, the University of Texas at Arlington and Lawrence Technological University near Detroit. For the full story read the World University News.

Severe Cuts for Overseas Scholarships in Revised Malaysian Government Budget Government scholarships for Malaysian students to study overseas have been slashed in a revised budget announced by Prime Minister Najib Razak last week, as the country suffers from a continued economic downturn, depreciating currency and a global drop in oil prices. Only the top 20 performers in the Malaysian Certificate of Education exam, taken at the end of secondary school, will now be able to benefit from the overseas scholarship programme for top students. Special engineering scholarships for students to go to Japan, South Korea, Germany and France have also been slashed by a third. For the full story read the University World News

The Flaw in the World-Class University Paradigm Rankings are perhaps the most powerful tool influencing national higher education policies around the world. Without any sound alternative vision for higher education, many governments pour huge resources into elite national universities so that they can have one 'World-Class University' or more. The New Flagship University, edited by John Douglass of the University of California, Berkeley, provides a more balanced vision for leading national universities by examining the historical and emerging roles played by national elite universities as well as higher education policies and best practices. Douglass argues that global rankings distort the prime mission of universities which is to focus on regional and national needs and service to society. For the full story read the World University News.

Indian Government Proposes Opening up Its Prestigious IITs to Foreign Students Foreign students could soon be permitted to study at prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology, due to a new proposal from the Human Resource Development Ministry that it hopes will attract more international students and raise the country’s standing in global academic league tables. For the full story read The PIE News.