Proposed 200-acre Education Hub for Balik Pulau - Penang State Government

The buzzes during the past couple months.... but what is it specifically, and how will it actually be implemented?


Excerpts from Speech by Lim Guan Eng at The World Chinese Economic Forum in Palace Of The Golden Horses Hotel on Tuesday, 17^th November 2009 - Penang blueprint “11 points of light” for Penang’s development into an international city and a high-income economy

"The Penang state government is taking steps to improve both the quantity and quality of higher education and boosting technological readiness, particularly information and communications technology penetration. As a start, the proposed 200 acre Education Hub in Balik Pulau together with the expansion of the existing PSDC would serve as an incubator to develop knowledge, skills and human capital."

Remarks Made By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng During His Meeting With Malaysian Professionals In The San Francisco City Bay Area On 12 December 2009 - Both Malaysia and Penang needs to urgently double our talent pool. For us to succeed, we must restructure and revamp our entire education structure:

The time has come for Malaysia to double our talent pool by focusing on excellence in education. Penang will do our part by expanding the Penang Skills Development Corporation and establishing the 200 acre Educational Hub of Excellence in Balik Pulau.

And speech press release - ASEAN-INDIA FTA IN GOODS: EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENHANCED INDIA-MALAYSIA BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT (27 OCT 2009)

WE ARE TAKING STEPS TO IMPROVE BOTH QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND BOOSTING TECHNOLOGICAL READINESS, PARTICULARLY INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY PENETRATION. AS A START, THE PROPOSED 200 ACRE EDUCATION HUB IN BALIK PULAU TOGETHER WITH THE EXPANSION OF THE EXISTING PSDC WOULD SERVE AS AN INCUBATOR TO DEVELOP KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND HUMAN CAPITAL.

IN SHORT, WE FEEL THAT THE STANDARD DEVELOPMENT MODEL IS NOT ENOUGH. WE NEED TO ADD 7 MORE INSTITUITIONAL AREAS IF WE ARE TO TRANSFORM OURSELVES INTO AN INTERNATIONAL CITY THAT CAN COMPETE GLOBALLY.

Your comments?

(Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang sedang mengambil beberapa langkah untuk mempertingkatkan kuantiti dan kualiti pendidikan tinggi dan meningkatkan kesediaan teknologi, khususnya penetrasi teknologi maklumat dan komunikasi. Sebagai permulaan, cadangan untuk Hub Pendidikan di Balik Pulau bersaiz 200 ekar bersama-sama dengan pengembangan PSDC (Pusat Pembangunan Kemahiran Pulau Pinang) akan dijadikan inkubator untuk membangun pengetahuan, kemahiran dan modal insan.)

Apa pendapat anda?