Professor Andrew Abbott joined Lancaster University on 1st November as the newly appointed Academic Dean for the Sunway University partnership in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Explaining his new role, Andrew says: “There are nearly 5,000 students taking Sunway programmes, which are validated by Lancaster University. There is an important function as Academic Dean to ensure the quality of academic delivery, curriculum and student learning, while being mindful of the requirements of the UK and Malaysian Quality Assurance authorities.

“I am truly delighted to be joining Lancaster University to take up this new and exciting role.”

Previously at the University of Hull for almost eleven years as Professor of Economics, Andrew arrives with extensive experience of internationalisation in higher education. He was Associate Dean: International at Hull University Business School from 2012 to 2016, where he had responsibility for international strategy and the management of overseas student recruitment activities. This included enhancing the Business School’s portfolio of Executive MBA programmes, delivered in cooperation with overseas partners.

As Director of Academic Partnerships (2016-2019), Andrew established a new Academic Partnerships Office at Hull, which strategically managed all of the University’s international partnerships for research, student recruitment, academic exchange and transnational education. Within this, he also supported the Faculty of Health Sciences to establish a BA in Nursing Science with Yangzhou University, China.

Andrew’s extensive international experience gives him a clear understanding of the potential for the Lancaster and Sunway partnership.

Andrew explains: “The Lancaster-Sunway cooperation is a ‘beacon partnership’ throughout Malaysia and South-East Asia, which has greatly enhanced the reputations of both institutions, in turn supporting growth in transnational education across twenty eight dual award programmes, where students take one programme but obtain two degree certificates.

“While the initial phase of development was as an International Teaching Partnership, it is pleasing to see a broadening of scope to embrace research. The Future Cities Research Institute was launched earlier in the year, with three clear themes of Sustainable Cities, Digital Cities and Liveable Cities. Given Lancaster’s strengths on the environment and sustainable development and the location of Sunway University, as part of a new urban development in the Greater KL, there are significant opportunities to deliver impactful research, which could inform policy.

“There remains significant potential for future portfolio growth in new areas, such as engineering, politics and international relations, and health sciences. There will be a renewed focus on postgraduate taught programmes.

“I would like to thank colleagues for all the support they given me so far and the warm welcome I received. I look forward to working across the University to deliver the objectives of the partnership and seeing as many of you as possible in KL!”