Where and what did you study in New Zealand? What skills did you attain in university that have been most useful to your working career?
I studied history and related subjects at Victoria University of Wellington. I learned to understand a lot of information in a short time and to think critically.

What was your most memorable experience while you were studying?
Looking at original documents which changed the way I thought about past events.

What are the major benefits for students in having the opportunity to study at a foreign university?
They have contact with many students from other countries and learn not to take for granted the way they have previously thought about the world, or aspects of it.

What does living in New Zealand offer students beyond a world-class education?
It is a beautiful and safe country with lots of opportunities for students to explore on their own, or with fellow students

Thanks for being a guest speaker at ACE Lectureship Series on 19 January 2015 where you presented on 40 years of New Zealand and South East Asia Relations. How does the relationship between Cambodia and New Zealand benefit both countries?
Cambodia and New Zealand are both relatively small countries – an exchange of information and ideas can assist both countries.

You lead a group of VUW students travel to ASEAN each year. What is the background and purpose of these visits? What benefits do the students and the people they meet gain from the visit?
The visits are designed to introduce to and educated the students about Southeast Asia. Southeast Asia is an important part of the world for New Zealand and the more our students can be made familiar with it the better. The local students and people they meet gain a positive understanding of New Zealand by meeting enthusiastic and interested young New Zealanders.

More and more Cambodian students are considering of studying in New Zealand and have made enquiries to the  IDP Study Abroad Office, what messages you want to pass on to them?
New Zealand is a good choice for overseas study – it is welcoming and safe, and many other overseas students have gone there before you. Also, I think New Zealanders benefit from having overseas students, including Cambodians, in their midst – it helps open New Zealand eyes to the rest of the world, especially Southeast Asia.

Dr Malcolm McKinnon, thank you very much for speaking with I’mACE!