CYBERJAYA, March 30 — The quality of education and value for money in Malaysia are among the reasons cited for the 12 per cent increase in international students enrolment in higher education institutions last year.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said the quality of life, cultural comfort and language were also why a total of 151,979 international students enrolled themselves in universities and colleges nationwide last year.
From the total, 80.3 per cent or 122,061 students were enrolled in higher education institutions, he told reporters after visiting the Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) Student Service Centre here today.
“The country is on track to achieve the target of attracting 200,000 international students by 2020 in line with Malaysia’s aim of becoming a preferred global education destination,” he said.
Idris also attributed it to the setting up of the EMSG in 2012 as it provided simplify procedures and flexibility for students to apply online for their student pass and the i-kad for the full duration of study programme.
i-kad is a valid travel document for international students in Peninsular Malaysia.
In collaboration with the Malaysian Immigration Department, Idris said the centre was also working together under one roof and provided a one-stop centre services to the international students.
He said effective March 15, international students had the choice to apply online for their student pass directly to EMGS once they had received an offer letter to study from approved higher education institutions in Malaysia.
“This is expected to speed up the application process and improve transparency,” he said, adding that the passes were now issued according to the study period compared to annual renewal previously.
However, he said the ministry and authorities would carry on with the annual verification and monitoring to ensure these students achieved their academic performance and not abuse their passes.
“We can do real time tracking of the students with the i-kad now and if the ministry gets report the students have abused the cards, we will take action against them or the institutions for failing to send the report,” he said. — Bernama
