Contrary to a local news report, the prestigious Cambridge University does not have any plans of setting up a branch campus in Malaysia.

"Cambridge University does not plan to set up campuses in other countries," said Cerris Tavinor, who is with the university's press and publication office, in an e-mail communique.

Last Wednesday, the New Straits Times quoted an anonymous senior official from the Higher Education Ministry as saying that discussion is underway and there is possibility of the university opening a campus here.

The report also claimed that a meeting was held on the matter, attended by Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, Higher Education Ministry Special Envoy Dr Mohd Effendi Norwawi and ministry officials.

Academic collaboration

However, Tavinor clarified that ongoing discussions concerned academic research projects.

She said St Catherine's College, a constituent college of Cambridge University, has been leading discussion with the Malaysian government on ways to strengthen existing educational links and partnership between Cambridge and Malaysia.

"This initiative will finance and facilitate collaborative academic research projects and will bring leading Cambridge academics to Malaysia.

"These discussion are at an early stage and no decision has yet been taken on the form that such collaboration might take," she added.

One of world's oldest

At present, Cambridge, which is one of the world's oldest universities and among the largest in the United Kingdom, does not have any branch campuses overseas.

The Malaysian government is trying to turn the country into an education hub and has invited foreign universities to open campuses here.

Currently, there are two foreign universities with branch campuses in Malaysia. They are the Australian-based Monash University and the UK-based Nottingham University.