Taylor's College, a pioneer in offering the Australian Matriculation (AUSMAT) pathway in Malaysia, proudly commemorated its longstanding partnership with the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) Board of South Australia offering the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) at a celebratory event held at Taylor's Lakeside Campus. This remarkable milestone marks over 40 years of collaboration and academic excellence. Formerly known as South Australian Matriculation (SAM) in Malaysia, this partnership has consistently provided students with a high-quality education, preparing them for higher education and professional success.

To honour this significant milestone, Taylor's College and the SACE Board recently organised a panel discussion themed "Transforming Education: Shaping the Future of Learning."

Research conducted by the McKinsey Global Institute1 suggests that the demand for transferable skills, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and social intelligence, will increase significantly in the coming years. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports2 that the average person is expected to have multiple career changes throughout their working life. Understanding the evolving changes in the education landscape in response to technological advancements, globalisation, and shifting career demands, the panel provided prospective students and parents with knowledge and insights into exploring an educational pathway and institution that nurtures student’s talents holistically and equips them with skills that prepares them for ongoing skill development throughout their careers. Exploring the vast opportunities and potential for academic and social excellence through the AUSMAT pathway, the event offered attendees a unique opportunity to gain valuable insights and perspectives from industry experts; Virginia Steele, Acting Director of Education Services, SACE Board, Kar-Yee Ong, Senior Country Officer for Singapore, Malaysia, and Brunei, Future Students, Student and Scholarly Services, University of Melbourne and a successful Taylor’s College SACE alumnus, Muhammad Naif Muhammad Zain.

Josephine Tan, Taylor's College Campus Director, expressed her enthusiasm about the event, stating, "We are thrilled to celebrate over 40 years of collaboration with the SACE Board, consistently delivering outstanding education to our students with the AUSMAT pathway. With our holistic approach and comprehensive pastoral care programme, Taylor's College equips students with the skills and knowledge for a successful future. Our strong partnership in delivering the SACE has also resulted in multiple merit awards and subject achievements. We value our partnerships and the community activities they enable, reflecting our dedication to nurturing young minds for future success."

Taylor's AUSMAT pathway is renowned worldwide for its effectiveness in providing students with a high-quality education and equipping them with the essential skills needed for higher education and future career success. Serving as a highly sought-after gateway to universities in Australia and beyond, the institution empowers students with access to a wide range of global opportunities. These include immersive study abroad programmes and the chance to study at prestigious institutions in South Australia and around the world, such as The University of Adelaide, University of South Australia, and Flinders University in South AustraliaThe University of Melbourne, The London School of Economics and Political Science, The University of Hong Kong, and The University of Auckland. The institution takes pride in the accomplishments of its graduates, with an impressive 51.9% achieving an ATAR of 80 and above, ranking them among the top 20% globally

Chief Executive of the SACE Board, Michaela Bensley, said, "The partnership between the SACE Board and Taylor's College has positively impacted countless students over the years. We aspire to be bold leaders in education, and believe through partnerships like ours we can empower students to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Together we have shared the success stories of young people achieving their goals and graduating with their SACE, a global passport to some of the world’s best universities and beyond. We take pride in the fact that many

Malaysian students have benefited from the programme to attend prestigious universities in South Australia and around the world, and we are grateful for the strong collaboration between our institutions in ensuring educational excellence and thriving student success."

The event was graced by Dr Steven Barraclough, Visiting Senior Government Official from the Australian High Commission, who remarked “Education is at the heart of the bilateral relationship between Australia and Malaysia and has been the catalyst for the deep peopleto-people links between our two countries since the 1950s. The SACE Board and Taylor’s College were international education pioneers when they commenced delivering this worldclass Australian matriculation programme in Malaysia in 1982. The AUSMAT pathway is recognised internationally for entry into some of the world’s most prestigious universities and provides Malaysian graduates with the full range of analytical, intercultural and critical thinking skills which will allow them to thrive both personally and professionally. The Australian High Commission congratulates Taylor’s College and the SACE Board on the 40th anniversary of their first graduating students and wishes every success for the future generations of Malaysians who will experience the AUSMAT pathway in the years to come.”

With the growing number of Malaysian students seeking international educational pathways, especially in countries like Australia, it is vital for students to choose a pathway that not only imparts knowledge but also nurtures the development of essential skills and qualities. This ensures their ability to remain relevant and adaptable to the changing demands of the future job market.

During the panel discussion, Taylor’s College SACE alumnus Muhammad Naif who is currently employed at Petronas, emphasised the critical importance of selecting a pathway that aligns with a student's interests and passions, highlighting that choosing the right programme begins with considering the track record and calibre of the institution, as well as the availability of robust pastoral care support. "The AUSMAT pathway provided me with a solid foundation for my higher education journey and prepared me for the challenges of the professional world. The collaboration between Taylor's College and the SACE Board has been instrumental in my personal and academic development,” he said.

SACE has been the trusted choice for Australian Matriculation (AUSMAT) in Malaysia since 1982, with its first offering at Taylor’s College. For more information about the AUSMAT pathway, please click here.