Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Internationalisation Professor Christine Ennew is to be the new Provost and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University’s Malaysia Campus.

Professor Ennew takes over from Professor Ian Pashby who is to be Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Engagement at the University of Hull.

“Malaysia is now a regional hub for international universities in Asia and competition is growing all the time,” said Professor Ennew. “There are challenges ahead but over the last decade Nottingham has built a strong and hugely attractive campus-based institution in Malaysia and we are continuing to invest heavily in teaching, research and the student experience. Over the next decade we need to ensure we get that balance right. Teaching and learning will remain our core purpose but we will be focusing increased attention on strengthening research and business engagement, and we have an excellent base to build on. We need to focus on balanced growth in an increasingly competitive environment, we have to ensure we get the right subject mix and that we continue to enhance the student experience. We also need to strengthen our research activity by building on the core strengths of the University, working in areas of direct relevance to the development of the Malaysian economy and in partnership with Malaysian Universities.”

Professor Ennew has been at the heart of our internationalisation programme for many years, managing the international strategy which has drawn students and staff from almost 150 nations to campuses in Britain and Asia. She led in the development of the Malaysia Campus in Kuala Lumpur in 2000 and between 2008 and 2011 she had responsibility for the continuing development and integration of Nottingham’s campuses in China and Malaysia.

The opening of the purpose-built campus in Semenyih was a milestone in Nottingham’s commitment to become one of the most prestigious higher education institutions in Malaysia.

Professor Pashby, who was appointed Provost in 2008, said: “It has been a challenging, exciting and very rewarding five years in which I’ve overseen a growth in student numbers, range of subjects offered and research activity. Student numbers have increased from 2,700 to over 4,400 and the campus has been recognised by the Malaysian Government for the quality of both its teaching and research. Continuous investment in infrastructure and services has seen the student experience improve year on year. UNMC is a vibrant academic community with over 70 nationalities represented amongst the student body. I am proud of what the staff have achieved over recent years and I feel very privileged to have been part of UNMC’s continuing success.”

“I will be very sad to leave behind so many friends and colleagues and a country which I have grown to love. The family has had so many wonderful adventures since arriving in Asia but they are now looking forward to returning to the UK and the new challenges that lie ahead. My new role at Hull will be particularly special for me as I am moving to my home-town University”.

Vice-Chancellor Professor David Greenaway said: “When the University established a campus in Malaysia the move was certainly visionary. Just 80 students walked through the doors when the campus opened in 2000. Since then thousands of students of all nationalities have reaped the benefits of gaining a British degree after studying on the other side of the world. It is a major undertaking for our academics and staff who move, often with their families, half way around the world to embrace new challenges and cultures and I want to thank Professor Pashby for his commitment and dedication. His tenure of nearly five years has seen our campus in Malaysia go from strength to strength and we wish him and his family the very best for the future.”