The Centre for Poverty and development Studies (CPDS), Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Malaya in collaboration with School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) Columbia University introduced an exciting Global Classroom that was officially launched on January 22, 2008.

This ground-breaking collaboration will incorporate state of the art web based technologies for sharing lectures across countries. The pedagogical tools employed will facilitate international discussion and collaboration among students at participating universities. Joining Columbia University in the Global Classroom is from 12 institutions of higher learning on five continents: University of Malaya (Malaysia) , School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) Columbia University, The Energy and Resource Institute (India), Georgetown University (USA), Institute of Development Studies, Sussex (UK), Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore (Singapore), Mekelle University (Ethiopia), Sciences Po (France), Tsinghua University (China), Universidad Internacional del Ecuador (Ecuador), University of International Business and Economics (China) and University of Ibadan (Nigeria).