Dec 17 starts Open Days for Xiamen University, classes commence on Feb 22 next year

China Press, December 4, 2015

Sepang, Dec 3 – The Xiamen University Malaysia Campus (XMUMC) which has received attention by the local Chinese community is open for enrollment with effect from today and classes will commence on February 22 next year.

XMUMC president Prof Wang Ruifang pointed out that the campus will hold open days starting from Dec 17, students, parents and the public are welcome to pay a visit to the campus and make inquiries.

“The campus will open from 8.30am to 4.30am daily; our recruiting staffs will be all out participating in the education fairs throughout the country.”

He hoped that the first batch of intakes next year would meet the target of 500 students and aiming for 5,000 students in 2022, the ultimate number of students will be 10,000.

80% lecturers are PhDs

“The sources of students are mainly from Malaysia, China and other countries, we shall create a campus with multi-national culture; 30% of the high level lecturers are recruited from Xiamen University in China, while the rest are from Malaysia and other parts of the world, at least 80% of them are doctoral degree holders.”

In a press conference held at the campus, Wang Ruifang said the campus should have commenced classes in September this year, but as the construction work as well as examination and approval of courses take time, it was delayed for half a year.

Fee waiver for Chinese independent high school students

He said the campus would emphasize on both teaching and researching, offering three tier programmes on degree, master and PhD.

“Ten of the degree programmes will be available February next year, and introducing the matriculation course (including science and arts) in April.”

On the recruitment exercise, Wang Ruifang said for the first batch of students, the campus is aiming at the Unified Examination Certificate holders; there would be different types of scholarship to attract more students.

“We have briefed all principals of the Chinese independent high schools in the country, their students would enjoy tuition fee waiver, and also empowered the school principals to recommend students who are entitled to full scholarship.”

He pointed out that the campus had also held briefing session for the national type Chinese secondary school principals, and also hoped that non-Chinese students would join the classes.

Meanwhile, he opined that the depreciation of Ringgit would force Malaysian students to opt for universities in the country and also luring the Chinese students to come to Malaysia for further study.

Xi Jinping and Najib witnessed signing of agreement

On January 21, 2013 Malaysian government officially extended invitation to Xiamen University to come to Malaysia and set up its campus here.

On October 21, 2013, in the presence of the Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib, China Development Bank, Sunsuria Development Sdn Bhd, Malaysia, and Xiamen University signed the agreement in China Development Bank’s all-round support for the construction of XMUMC.

On July 3, 2014 Najib attended the ground-breaking ceremony of XMUMC.

With an area of 150 acres, the first phase of the campus covered an area of 260,000 square meter comprised of 13 main blocks of building with an investment of about RM800 million. The construction works started on October 17, 2014, one of the integrated blocks of student apartment had been awarded with the Certificate of Completion and Compliance (CCC), the campus has also received approval from the Education Ministry on November 13, 2015 and was allowed to take in students.

Xiamen University was formed in 1921 by the late Tan Kah Kee, a philanthropist from Malaya; it is the first university in China founded by overseas Chinese.

The biggest advantage is its degree recognize by both countries

According to Wang Ruifang, the biggest advantage and attraction of XMUMC is the recognition of its degree by both Malaysia and China government.

“XMUMC graduates will therefore have the opportunity of either working or pursuing further education in both countries.”

He said akin to the main campus in Xiamen, the XMUMC also has good school ethos as well as rich in educational conditions and resources, including beautiful landscapes and facilities for co-curricular activities.

“With an area of 150 acres, students can stay in the campus, facilities available include swimming pool, stadium etc.”

He said the XMUMC will pool together students from China and ASEAN countries, enabling the students to integrate and learning from each other on economic, culture and science and technology so that they will have strong competitive edge.

Wang Ruifang stressed that with “Pursue Excellence, Strive for Perfection” as its motto, the XMUMC would do everything to nurture dignified and intelligent students.

XMUMC’s good performance will help to elevate Xiamen University’s ranking

Wang Ruifang said according to the world university rankings announced by the American News, Xiamen University ranked No. 275. If the XMUMC is successful, the ranking of Xiamen University would be enhanced.

He said the international ranking of Xiamen University has been moving up in recent years, the setting up of campus outside China is one of the ways to promote the international development of Xiamen University.

Wang Ruifang said students from China who come to study in XMUMC must possess the same qualification as the enrollment in Xiamen University, and therefore their academic level is higher than Chinese students in other Malaysian institutions.

He also said all the courses in XMUMC would be taught in English except traditional Chinese medicine and Chinese language.

Original Source:
17日起開放參觀 2月22日開課廈大招生