Why this French educator chose to settle down in Malaysia

At Study International, we’re all about young people going places during the most important phase of their life: university.

We’re obsessed with students moving to another country and not just finding their feet there but also slaying their academic goals, landing their dream internships, and living their best lives.

For a long time, it felt like only countries like the US, UK, Australia, and Canada could offer these, especially among the rising middle-class families from China and India.

But in recent years, Asia is having a moment as a study-abroad destination.

A report by the British Council found that interest in the UK has steadily declined, with many Asian countries continuing to invest in attracting international students. You’ll find many living in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, China, and more.

Having been born in Malaysia myself, I’ve always believed that the country has much to offer. You’ll find high-ranking programmes, talented educators, and a rich cultural scene – all qualities that every student looks for in an international degree.

It says a lot that I considered going abroad to study but inevitably chose to go the local route – yet, here I am today, writing for education on an international scale.

But that’s just me. To better understand what’s going on with Asian universities and why international students should consider studying here, I reached out to Associate Professor Dr. Joaquim Dias Soeiro at Sunway University in Malaysia.

As the Deputy Dean of Internationalisation and an ex-international student himself, who better to discuss the pros, cons, and everything else in between about studying and living in Malaysia?

Associate Professor Dr. Joaquim Dias Soeiro is an educator at Sunway University, Malaysia. Source: Associate Professor Dr. Joaquim Dias Soeiro

From a bougie French town to living in Malaysia

Cahors is a small town southwest of France, known for its luxury imports such as black truffles, foie gras, and red wine. It is also one of the French Towns of Art and History for its Gothic and Medieval architecture.

The lush vineyards of Cahors are a far cry from tropical, sunny Malaysia. But that was just what initially caught Dr. Joaquim Dias Soeiro’s interest.

We met for lunch at Sunway University, where the professor is in charge of international students, both coming into and going out of Malaysia. At the same time, he works to create new mobility programmes and pathways and adds new international certifications to the university’s offerings.

“I focus on developing a truly international learning experience,” said Dr. Joaquim. Once an international student himself, he still remembers his time at Université Toulouse before coming to Malaysia, where he decided to stay on to work, and then pursued his master’s and PhD.

“I initially pursued hard science, but decided to redirect my horizons into something more human-centric,” he said. “I pivoted to sales and marketing, and the closest school I could find near my location was a hotel school.”

 

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When I asked why he chose Malaysia in the first place, he cited his friends as the reason. They were here to complete their bachelor’s degrees and came back to work as educators. He visited them during his holidays and he followed suit. What he didn’t expect, however, was how quickly he would fall in love with the Southeast Asian country.

When I asked him why he gave up a future in Europe to one living in Malaysia, his answer took me by surprise – in a good way. I had expected a profound dive into a life-changing experience, but Dr. Joaquim’s reply was much simpler.

“It’s sunny and tropical, not cold,” said the professor, gesturing to the window behind him. “But there’s also the simplicity of the Malaysian lifestyle – everything is accessible here. And opportunities are endless.”

I asked what else was keeping him here throughout all the years. Again, another unexpected answer – “Roti canai is very good,” he said.

As a Malaysian, I was proud. Roti canai, an Indian flatbread usually eaten with curry, is a staple here – not just a mere “flat croissant” as some influencers tried to claim.

Maybe because we have little else as a tourism destination, maybe our cuisine is incredible. Whichever it is, it was affirming to hear our culture validated.

“I actually didn’t plan to stay so long,” he said. “I was expecting to stay two or three years to get some international experience, then go back to France to work. But I enjoy Malaysia – the culture, food, people, and like I said, the simplicity and humility of everything.”

From travelling around in bustling cities to languid strolls in the countryside — living in Malaysia means experiencing it all. Source: AFP

Why Malaysia should be on the list of study abroad destinations

Dr. Joaquim listed many other reasons why living in Malaysia is a joy.

Some, I found, were things that I naturally took for granted. For example, there is (almost) 24-hour access to shopping malls, convenience stores, and restaurants – and unless you’re going to its seven Michelin-starred restaurants, most of them are affordable, too.

Another reason was his career took off. There were opportunities to be seized here. While he started out as a lecturer, Dr. Joaquim had no shortage of promotions as he proved himself taking on challenges.

“I can get bored quickly,” he admitted. “But so far in Malaysia, I’ve never really had the opportunity to be bored, because change is always happening.”

He gave the example of Asia, as a rising option among students across the world. Despite deep-seated and long-running legacies of strict discipline and rote learning approaches, things are changing. For one, universities in Asia are improving in rankings and going global.

 

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One example is Sunway University, where Dr. Joaquim works. “At Sunway University, we are the only private university in ASEAN being highly ranked in so many world and Asia University Rankings like Times Higher Education, ShanghaiRanking, QS, Applied HE, and more,” he said.  “This is a testimony of our quality but also an evidence of growing universities in Asia.”

“We’re working to have more open-minded, self-directed learning, and allow students to be independent and work on their own interests,” the professor said. “There are challenges, of course, but that’s where we as educators come in to discuss what can be improved, and what kind of tools can be used.”

We continued to have an in-depth conversation about the hospitality industry and its evolution, a story which you can find here. But one thing was certain to me – Dr. Joaquim was passionate about his work and loved living in Malaysia.

“If I truly didn’t enjoy what Malaysia had to offer, I would have left a long time ago,” he said. “But since I’ve been here for 18 years, this means I genuinely enjoy it here.”