Malaysia is promoting educational qualifications in the world's most populous country as it strives to double its international student intake in just two years.
Malaysia's High Commissioner to India Muzaffar Shah Mustafa said the country is committed to attracting more Indian students as part of global efforts to promote universities.
Mr Muzaffar reportedly made the remarks at an online event to launch a $50 million (£39 million) scholarship program for overseas students attending one of Malaysia's oldest business schools.
He reportedly echoed former higher education minister Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin's comments in a speech last year, saying: “Malaysia is committed to being a hub of talent and knowledge.” That's what it means. “We aim to attract and develop talented individuals and minds from around the world and to serve as a center of excellence for the generation, dissemination and application of knowledge.”
Malaysia's goal of hosting 250,000 foreign higher education students by 2025 was outlined in the 2015 Higher Education Blueprint. Although the government does not report overall international enrollment numbers, the current tally is thought to be about half of the 2025 target, with a surprising proportion from India given its size and proximity. few.
According to data platform Statista, only 4,000 Indians enrolled in higher education institutions in Malaysia in 2022.
Figures from Education Malaysia Global Services, the government's international education promotion arm, suggest India is a small but growing market for local educators. Only 3% of international student applications come from India, with most coming from the Muslim-majority neighboring countries of China and Malaysia, Bangladesh and Indonesia.
But following similar developments in Tanzania and Abu Dhabi, a Malaysian branch of the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) system could strengthen two-way educational ties. In late 2022, IIT Kharagpur, the first member of the system, announced its intention to establish a campus in Kuala Lumpur.
Although that has not happened yet, Muzaffar reportedly said he is “enthusiastic to welcome” the new IIT hub. He also pledged to increase opportunities for Indian students through the MyBinary International Grant, a $50 million scheme that covers half of the tuition fees for foreign freshmen at the 40-year-old Binary University of Management and Entrepreneurship. He also emphasized one thing.
Malaysia and India reportedly agreed to strengthen academic cooperation at their foreign ministers' meeting in New Delhi in November.
According to consultancy Acumen, “intra-Asian mobility” is increasingly threatening the Anglophone region's major international education hosts. A recent report said financial constraints and “hesitancy to travel” due to COVID-19 are leading the region's globetrotting students to destinations “closer to home”. There is.
The report said Malaysia has established itself as a hub for cross-border education, making it a popular choice, not far behind Australia, which is a top destination for Indonesian students.
“Twenty years ago, Malaysia focused on affordability, cultural proximity and flexibility as its unique value proposition for inbound students,” said Kenny Chew, Customer Experience Manager at Acumen Malaysia. says Mr. “The message to new international students now is, ‘Study your entire undergraduate degree in Malaysia and complete your master’s degree abroad,’ and the market is responding positively.”
john.ross@timeshighereducation.com
