19.01.2006
The university hosted Dr Tan Yu Eng, the secretary of the Brighton Alumni Association of Malaysia. Dr Tan was awarded his PhD in Wood Engineering by the university in 1997 and now works as the Director of the Processing and Timber Technology Programme at the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM).
During his visit Dr Tan was reunited with his old PhD supervisor, Dr David Pope in the School of the Environment and Dr Deshinder Gill, a member of university staff from Malaysia. He was given a tour of the new facilities in the Faculty of Science and Engineering and was even put in the pilot seat of the university's light aircraft simulator for a quick flight over the Sussex countryside.
Left to right: Dr David Pope, Dr Tan Yu Eng and Dr Deshinder Gill
He met Andrew Scanlan, Alumni and Development Manager as well as the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Julian Crampton and Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering in order to forge closer links between the university and Malaysia.
Over the years the university has taught a large number of Malaysian students. The Brighton Alumni Association of Malaysia was set up in 1988 and now hundreds of our former students are members. A large proportion of the group studied science and engineering courses at Brighton Polytechnic but the association is also keen to recruit recent graduates from the university and is able to offer excellent networking opportunities and support to our Malaysian alumni. Many of the group's members have gone on to occupy top positions in Malaysia's energy and telecommunications industries.
President of the association, Datuk Ir (Dr) Mohd Annas Mohd Nor, has recently retired as the chairman of the Malaysian Energy Commission while other Brighton graduates include the Chairman of the Gas Commission, a Vice-President of Petronas, two Vice-Presidents of Telekom Malaysia Bhd and the Chairman of Sapura Holdings.
The group holds regular reunion events culminating in the Brighton Nite annual dinner that attracts over 300 of our former students, their families and special guests. Further information can be found at their web site http://brightonboys.arecool.net.
Contact: Marketing and Communications, University of Brighton, 01273 643022
