A new front

Sunday January 17, 2010
A new front
By RICHARD LIM

Private higher education institutions are urged to take risks and set up privately-run polytechnics.

PRIVATE universities and university colleges have been encouraged to establish their own polytechnics to offer engineering and technical programmes.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin extended the invitation after ministry data showed that five out of 10 students enquired about the aforementioned programmes at the ministry’s overseas expos.
As public varsities have a 5% cap on international students, private universities and university colleges were poised to benefit.
However, the same did not apply to local polytechnics as there were barely enough places for Malaysian students.
“More than 120,000 local students apply for around 30,000 places in polytechnics each year,” said Mohamed Khaled in a press conference during The Star Education Fair 2010 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
“Private universities and university colleges must be willing to take the risk and set up polytechnics as international students are interested in these programmes.”
He added that the ministry was looking at either private universities or university colleges as they were in a better position compared to colleges which were smaller.
Students in search of study options from various institutions at the fair.
“These institutions could use their entrepreneurial and creative abilities to develop these programmes,” he continued.
“It is a unique opportunity for them to capitalise on, and the ministry is willing to facilitate any move.”
Mohamed Khaled said the Government would look into providing incentives in the budget for this purpose.
“Higher education is an industry by itself,” he added. “It is one sector which can make Malaysia a serious global player in higher education.”
According to Unesco’s Global Education Digest 2008, approximately 2% of the world’s 2.5mil international students are studying in Malaysia.
Malaysia is currently ranked as the 11th most preferred study destination behind Singapore.
The top nine are the traditional big names in education like the United States, Britain, France and Australia, among others.
Mohamed Khaled also said that the ministry was confident that its target to have 75,000 international students this year would be met.
The number of international students in Malaysia currently hovers around the 70,000 mark.
Mohamed Khaled told The Star that the ministry would be willing to consider any serious applications, as the establishment of privately-run polytechnics would boost Malaysia’s higher education standing.
He expressed his hope that private universities and university colleges would be willing to step up to the plate.
“There are two private companies that have applied to set up polytechnics so far, but they are not private higher education providers,” he confirmed.
Mohamed Khaled also threw his weight behind the education fair and thanked The Star for its long-standing commitment to higher education.
Describing the fair as instrumental in providing educational outreach, he added that students and parents would not be the only beneficiaries, as Malaysia’s many private higher education institutions stood to gain as well.
“Participating institutions stand to gain a great deal by being able to see themselves in comparison with other providers,” he said.
“This will encourage them to improve the quality of their service as well as to educate the public on the type of degrees and specialisations available in Malaysia.”
Mohamed Khaled also recognised that the fair was the biggest of its kind in Malaysia and one of the largest in Asia.
“An education expo and fund as large as this is very rare indeed and I’m happy that The Star recognises the country’s effort to be a regional education hub,” he said.
Thanking the institutions which pledged scholarships, Mohamed Khaled expressed the ministry’s hope for the fair and the Fund to continue to expand.
Also present were Star Publications (M) Bhd group managing director and chief executive officer Datin Linda Ngiam and executive director Ng Beng Lye.
In her speech, Ngiam said that The Star had always been more than just a newspaper that covers stories and events.
“We see ourselves as an integral part of the community and a responsible corporate citizen. We believe that a sound education system is central to our growth of a developed nation.
“We will continue to play our part in promoting our Prime Minister’s goal of developing a creative and innovative nation,’’ she said.
The fair, which ran for the 23rd time this year, took place in Kuala Lumpur on Jan 9 and 10.
It will also be held at the Penang International Sports Arena (Pisa) on March 6 and 7.