Dr Vicki Little of the School of Business offers a comment.

Monash University Sunway campus has had “spectacular growth” over the last few years, Pro Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Robin Pollard said.

“Over the past six years, the campus has doubled in size. This is not a phenomenon that Australian universities have gone through in recent times,” he told administrative and academic staff during a 90-minute question-and-answer session.

“We are not just attracting new students, but students who started in prior periods are showing excellent progress. The latter trend leads to overall campus growth as a consequence of students continuing their studies through to completion at Sunway campus,” he said during the forum on “MUSC – Current and Future Directions”.

With growth, he said, came the challenge to do things in new and improved ways. The ultimate campus size is 8,000 students, with a healthy mix of undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Prof Pollard explained that although Monash University Sunway campus was profitable, its shareholders do not receive dividends.

“This is considered part of the shareholders’ commitment to philanthropy and nation-building. Profits are put back into the university for the next phase of development, and to give our students the best possible experiences of university life.”

He encouraged academics to tap into research funding opportunities that the Government had provided for under the 10^th Malaysia Plan.

School of Engineering's Associate Professor Dr. K. S. Ong puts forward a question.

“Funding agencies are looking to fund research that addresses national priority areas. Within our own areas of expertise, we need to identify how we can assist the country in addressing national concerns,” he said.

He added that collaborations with public universities and government-linked companies are encouraged.

Director of Education Quality and Innovation Dr Glenda Crosling said that in order to be an effective institution, the Sunway campus needs to be relevant to Malaysian priorities.

“It is important to move along these lines. This adds richness to the wider university,” she said.

Prof Pollard concluded: “There is no time for complacency … the next step is to be even bolder.”