To be recognized at the international level, Malaysia requires a relevant and competitive higher education system, and must be capable of contributing to universal development. The internationally recognized higher education system will nurture highly marketable graduates, and will be able to attract more international students and generate innovation through research and development activities. A strong internationalization network will increase the capacity to improve and enhance the quality of higher education system that would be at par with the world’s best. These internationalization efforts will be achieved through research collaboration, offering of relevant programs of study and the establishment of research chairs in Malay Studies in foreign universities to build an international reputation for Malaysia. Currently, various efforts are undertaken to obtain international recognition for higher education programs in Malaysia. International recognition of Malaysian programs of study is also realized through twinning programs. The objective of this thrust is to create an excellent international hub of higher education in Malaysia. By 2020, the enrollment of international students in HEIs is targeted at an average of 10% of the overall student enrollment, and the recruitment of foreign lecturers will amount to 15 percent of the total academic staff among the research universities. A maximum of 5% of international student intake in competitive courses in public HEIs is expected.
Collaboration between local and foreign HEIs is one of the initiatives taken to boost Malaysia as an international hub of higher educational excellence. The measures to be implemented are :
• Expand and strengthen national higher education global networks at all levels through the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and Memoranda of Agreement (MoAs) between local HEIs and renowned foreign universities. This effort includes promoting public HEIs’ twinning programs with foreign universities which will jointly award the degree. In addition, outstanding students in public HEIs will attend a one-semester attachment program at universities abroad for international exposure and experience. HEIs need to explore cooperative efforts in all aspects of teaching and learning, research, as well as contribution of expertise.
• Establish and foster international collaboration with multinational companies and the private sector through the sponsorship of prestigious Fellows/Chairs based on expertise in the fields of medicine and engineering.
• Establish a consortium of Malaysian universities and college universities to support the internationalization of higher education activities such as virtual and distance learning programs similar to the establishment of the Asia e-University.
• Encourage the employment of international experts and highly skilled lecturers in Research Universities to make up 15% of their total academic staff by 2020.
• Maintain and broaden the database of public HEI Directory of Academic Profiles for the purpose of storing and retrieving information about Malaysian scholars with specific skills and expertise.
• Intensify the efforts of HEIs to offer research-based PhD split-degree [programs to students in universities abroad.
• Mobilize special funds for student and academic staff exchange activities based on performance and stipulated KPIs.
• Increase the number of scholarship awards to attract outstanding international students to pursue their studies in Malaysia. Similarly, outstanding local students will be sponsored for one-semester study programs in world-renowned universities to acquire international knowledge and experience.
• Encourage HEIs to introduce and consolidate more global content in global curricula. Such content can include international language courses, as well as holistic exploratory and comparative studies on local and global issues.
• Encourage HEIs to offer academic programs concerning the uniqueness of Malaysia and the Asian region to attract international undergraduates and postgraduates to study and conduct research in the country. Increase the number of regional and international educational centers which recruit academic staff from abroad to conduct studies on the socio-economic aspects, language and culture of Malaysia and the Asian region.
• Manage and organize more prestigious international conferences and seminars on higher education.
In an effort to promote Malaysia as an international hub of higher educational excellence, the following measures will be implemented:
- Increase international student enrolment in HEIs in stages.
- Intensify overseas promotional programs, either to a single country or via participation in expositions organized by various local and international agencies, as well as to widen the dissemination of information on HEIs through the MoHE and respective HEI websites.
- Reinforce the existing MEPCs in Dubai, Beijing, Jakarta and Ho Chi Minh City so that they are better able to market Malaysia’s educational products. The need for the establishment of the new MPECs in other countries will be considered based on the outcome of market research. KPIs will be formulated for the purpose of monitoring MEPCs and the one-stop Edu-Malaysia center.
- Encourage private HEIs to establish branch campuses or centers of education abroad and conduct various private sector. An appropriate mechanism will be established for this purpose. In addition, incentives will be considered for private HEIs who participate in international marketing and successfully recruit international students.
- Establish forward-looking and innovative criteria and indicators for higher education branding under Edu-Malaysia.
- Further improve the efficiency and effectiveness of support services to enable Malaysia to become an international hub of higher educational excellence by:
- Ensuring that every HEI provides support services such as comfortable accommodation, and a safe and secure environment to attract outstanding international students. The target is to achieve an international student enrollment representing an overall average of 10 percent of the total enrolment in HEIs by 2020. HEIs will be permitted to admit more than the targeted average percentage based on the capacities and capabilities.
- Providing international students’ educational pathways to enroll in competitive courses in selected public HEIs. These students will not exceed 5 percent of the total enrolment and will be charged full tuition fees.
- Conducting training and providing international exposure to HEI academic staff involved in managing international students admission so that they have the right attitude and skills to handle international student’s affairs.
- Ensuring cooperation from all agencies and authorities in addressing and solving issues related to visas and related immigration matters in order to minimize negative perceptions that may arise.
- Reinforcing the International Student Affairs Division of the MoHE through the appointment of officials specifically assigned to handle international students, particularly those from countries that send a large number of students.