Manager, Transnational Education (TNE) Business Development

IMU Education Sdn Bhd; Kuala Lumpur; On-site; MYR 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

IMU Education Sdn Bhd is seeking a Manager, Transnational Education (TNE) Business Development to lead international academic collaborations and transnational education initiatives that align with IMU University's strategy and strengthen financial sustainability.

You will oversee market research, feasibility studies, financial analyses and risk assessments for opportunities such as articulation pathways, dual degrees, franchise models and mobility programs, collaborating with Schools, Finance,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Economics, International Business, Marketing or related field.
• Experience in business development, partnerships, or higher education management is preferred.
• Strong skills in market research, financial modelling, budgeting, revenue forecasting and cost-benefit analysis.

Responsibilities

• Lead identification, evaluation and prioritisation of international collaborations and TNE opportunities.
• Direct market research and competitive analysis to assess demand and position IMU programmes.
• Develop financial projections, start-up and recurring costs, staffing needs and partner fees.
• Oversee feasibility studies, business cases and partner risk assessments.
• Coordinate with Finance and academic units to validate assumptions and ensure commercial viability.
• Lead the development of mobility initiatives and cross-border education models.
• Monitor project KPIs and prepare reports for GEO leadership.

Skills

Market research

Financial modelling

Budgeting

Revenue forecasting

Cost-benefit analysis

Excel

PowerPoint

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business or related field

Postgraduate qualification advantageous

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Manager, Transnational Education (TNE) Business Development

To lead the development and implementation of commercially viable international academic collaborations and transnational education (TNE) initiatives that advance IMU University's internationalisation strategy, diversify income streams and strengthen the University's long-term financial sustainability.

The role leads market research, feasibility studies, financial and business case analyses, and risk assessments to evaluate and prioritise potential opportunities, including articulation and credit transfer pathways, dual or double degree programmes, franchise and validation arrangements, collaborative academic programmes, and student mobility initiatives.

Working in partnership with academic Schools, Finance, Quality Assurance, Legal and other relevant stakeholders, the Manager will lead the assessment of market demand, student recruitment potential, operational requirements, financial returns and long-term sustainability. The role will provide evidence-based recommendations to Global Engagement Office (GEO) leadership and University management on partnership models, investment priorities and implementation strategies aligned with IMU's academic strengths and strategic priorities.

The role will lead the development and oversight of international partnership and mobility projects, translating strategic opportunities into sustainable, mutually beneficial collaborations that enhance student experience, strengthen IMU's international profile and deliver measurable income and institutional value.

Role Purpose

To lead the development and implementation of commercially viable international academic collaborations and transnational education (TNE) initiatives that advance IMU University's internationalisation strategy, diversify income streams and strengthen the University's long-term financial sustainability.

The role leads market research, feasibility studies, financial and business case analyses, and risk assessments to evaluate and prioritise potential opportunities, including articulation and credit transfer pathways, dual or double degree programmes, franchise and validation arrangements, collaborative academic programmes, and student mobility initiatives.

Working in partnership with academic Schools, Finance, Quality Assurance, Legal and other relevant stakeholders, the Manager will lead the assessment of market demand, student recruitment potential, operational requirements, financial returns and long-term sustainability. The role will provide evidence-based recommendations to Global Engagement Office (GEO) leadership and University management on partnership models, investment priorities and implementation strategies aligned with IMU's academic strengths and strategic priorities.

The role will lead the development and oversight of international partnership and mobility projects, translating strategic opportunities into sustainable, mutually beneficial collaborations that enhance student experience, strengthen IMU's international profile and deliver measurable income and institutional value.

Job Responsibilities

Business Development and Opportunity Identification

• Lead the identification, evaluation and prioritisation of international business and academic collaboration opportunities that support IMU's internationalisation strategy and income-generation objectives.

• Direct market research and market intelligence activities to assess demand, competitor offerings, target student segments, emerging education trends and the positioning of IMU programmes in relevant markets.

• Identify opportunities for new articulation and credit transfer pathways, dual or double degree programmes, franchise arrangements, programme validation, transnational delivery and other collaborative education models.

• Explore opportunities to expand student mobility activities, including inbound and outbound exchanges, short-term academic programmes, clinical or professional placements, research mobility and other revenue-generating mobility initiatives where appropriate.

• Maintain and manage a prioritised pipeline of opportunities, applying clear criteria for strategic fit, commercial potential, delivery capacity, risk and time to value.

Feasibility Studies and Financial Viability Assessment

• Lead feasibility studies and oversee the preparation of robust business cases for proposed international partnerships, TNE initiatives and student mobility projects.

• Lead the development and review of financial projections, including estimated revenue, start-up and recurring costs, staffing and resource requirements, partner fees, marketing expenditure, operational costs and projected contribution margins.

• Evaluate and advise on financial viability under different scenarios, including variations in student enrolment, tuition fees, programme duration, exchange numbers, partner revenue-sharing arrangements and implementation costs.

• Partner with Finance, academic Schools and relevant stakeholders to challenge and validate assumptions, costing models and projected returns, ensuring proposals are commercially robust before submission for approval.

• Oversee the financial performance of approved projects against business case projections, identify variances and lead recommendations for corrective action, expansion, restructuring or discontinuation.

Transnational Education (TNE) Development

• Lead the development and evaluation of TNE opportunities, including franchise, validation, dual or double degree, collaborative delivery and other cross-border education arrangements.

• Lead due diligence and assess the suitability of prospective TNE partners based on academic reputation, institutional capability, market access, financial strength, regulatory standing and alignment with IMU's strategic objectives.

• Oversee the preparation of concept papers, feasibility reports, business cases, partnership proposals and implementation plans.

• Work with Quality Assurance, academic Schools and other relevant units to ensure that proposed arrangements meet applicable Malaysian and partner-country regulatory, accreditation and quality assurance requirements.

• Monitor and interpret developments in international higher education, cross-border delivery and relevant regulatory policies to identify new opportunities and anticipate potential constraints.

Student Mobility Business Development and Project Management

• Lead the identification, design and development of inbound and outbound student mobility initiatives that support IMU's internationalisation strategy and, where appropriate, generate income.

• Evaluate, prioritise and oversee feasibility assessments for exchange programmes, short-term study programmes, summer or winter schools, clinical or professional electives, research placements and other mobility opportunities.

• Assess student demand, participation potential, programme pricing, partner contributions, travel and accommodation costs, staffing requirements and other delivery considerations.

• Lead the development of mobility proposals that balance financial sustainability, academic value, student experience, reciprocal participation and the potential to scale up successful initiatives.

• Oversee participation, expenditure, revenue, student feedback and project outcomes, and drive improvements to enhance uptake and sustainability.

Performance Monitoring, Reporting and Continuous Improvement

• Set, monitor and review project KPIs, including projected and actual revenue, contribution margin, student participation, partner engagement, project conversion and implementation progress.

• Provide strategic and periodic reports on the international business development pipeline, feasibility assessments, project performance, financial outcomes and emerging opportunities.

• Lead periodic portfolio reviews of existing collaborations to identify opportunities for expansion, improvement, renegotiation or discontinuation.

• Maintain accurate records of feasibility studies, financial models, proposals, approvals, agreements and project outcomes to support institutional reporting and decision-making.

• Drive contributions to GEO's annual planning, budgeting, internationalisation priorities and continuous improvement, including recommendations on resource allocation and portfolio priorities.

• Develop and maintain a consolidated business development pipeline and project portfolio dashboard to support prioritisation, accountability and evidence-based decision-making.

• Share expertise and provide guidance to colleagues involved in partnership development, feasibility assessment and project delivery, promoting consistent standards and good practice.

Job Requirement

• A bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Economics, International Business, Marketing, Higher Education Management or a related field. A postgraduate qualification in a relevant field is an advantage.

• At least 7 years of relevant experience in business development, commercial or financial analysis, project development, international partnerships, higher education management or a related field.

• Demonstrated experience leading feasibility studies and evaluating the financial viability of projects.

• Strong skills in market research, financial modelling, budgeting, revenue forecasting and cost-benefit analysis.

• Knowledge of international higher education partnerships and TNE models, including articulation pathways, credit transfer, dual or double degrees, franchise and validation arrangements.

• Experience in international higher education markets, cross-border programme delivery or student mobility is strongly preferred.

• Ability to manage multiple projects, assess risks, exercise sound judgement and drive initiatives through to completion.

• Strong communication, business writing, presentation and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to collaborate across academic and administrative teams.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.