University of Hull branch campus to be set up

GEORGE TOWN: A graduate of the University of Hull is repaying his alma mater by helping to set up the university’s first franchised branch campus out of the United Kingdom in Batu Kawan.

It will be the first international university campus in Seberang Prai and the second of its kind in Penang.

Datuk Michael Tio, who graduated from the university in 1991, said the project would be undertaken by PKT Logistics Group Sdn Bhd of which he is the group chief executive and managing director.

The branch campus will focus on Engineering, Law, Accountancy and Logistics.

“The project is supported by the Federal Government. The state government is allocating a 2ha plot of land,” he said after a press conference by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng who announced the setting up of the branch campus.

Tio said the campus was one of the components of PKT’s One Auto Hub which would be set up in Batu Kawan.

The hub comprises components such as automotive logistics facilities, warehouse, hotel, pavilion, jetty and mangrove walk or animal sanctuary.

Tio, who is president of Hull Alumni Malaysia, said the project called “The Ship Campus”, was undertaken under the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme.

He said the construction work was expected to begin next year and the student intake would be in 2017.

Lim said the branch campus would further boost the development of Batu Kawan as the third satellite township in the state.

He said the faculties and courses were subject to the final approval of the Education Ministry.

Lim said PKT Logistics, through its subsidiary ALC College, would sign a franchise agreement with the university next month.

The University of Hull is located in Hull on the northern shore of the Humber Estuary in England.

It was developed from the University College Hull, which was founded in 1927 and opened in 1928.

The Duke of York (George VI) laid the foundation stone in 1928.