SECTOR FOCUS
Realising that there was a ready captive market for higher education within Malaysia and a shortage of institutions to meet the need, many of the existing colleges and universities banded together to form the Malaysian Association of Private Colleges and Universities (MAPCU). Working closely with the Malaysian government, MAPCU’s mission was to make higher education affordable while helping the government reduce the outflow of funds for education overseas.
No. of students (‘000) 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10
Legend:
2009
In 1996, enrolment in the HEIs was 17,589; in 1997, it jumped to 28,344 students. Even so, in 1997, only onethird of the total of 86,384 applicants could be admitted. Consequently, in 1996, more than 15,000 students went overseas for higher education.
Figure 4: Number of Foreign Students in Higher Education Institutions by Region, 2005 -2009
2008
In 2000, there were 11 universities in the public sector, besides six private universities and 283 private colleges. The demand for higher education was so high that all six private universities were established in just two years in 1996 and 1997 in response to public demand for admission to the HEIs and the inability of the government-funded HEIs to meet the need.
2007
Since the birth of the Malaysian Federation in 1963, higher education institutions (HEIs) have expanded phenomenally in number, student enrolment, and the range of specialties they offer.
“Malaysia is acknowledged as one of the pioneeers in this region in the development of affordable transnational educational programmes”
Supported by the government, MAPCU also initiated the innovative concept of twinning degree programmes in which studies are conducted partly in Malaysia and completed abroad at the foreign partner university. In certain cases, programmes may now be conducted entirely in Malaysia although the degrees continue to be conferred by the foreign universities. Hence a student at the Malaysian branch of a foreign
2006
by Hazrul Izwan & Hizzan Hamid
of branch campuses of reputable foreign universities in Malaysia, with uniformity maintained in terms of course content, academic standards and degrees awarded.
2005
AFFORDABLE EDUCATION IN A TROPICAL PARADISE
6
Asia
Oceania
Africa
Latin America
Europe
Others
Source: NAPIC, MPI Research
university does not have to leave these shores to be awarded the degree, saving him considerably in terms of costs.
So successful were MAPCU’s endeavours that ever since 1998, Malaysian private institutions of higher learning have been increasingly spotted by foreign universities from countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, United States and France to form a MAPCU’s objectives include promoting collaboration, given the country’s and co-ordinating the development of potential capacity to become a popular Malaysia’s private higher education education centre in the region. industry; enhancing the quality and delivery of courses and programmes Prominent international universities conducted by its members and such as Monash University, Curtin affiliating itself with international University of Technology, University of associations and bodies involved in both Nottingham and Swinburne University of Technology have already established public and private higher education. a strong presence in Malaysia and offer Amongst its strategies for fulfilling the same courses that are available at these objectives were the establishment their main campus.
In Johor’s Iskandar Region, the southern economic corridor of Malaysia linking business activities to neighbouring Singapore, a number of big names such as University of Southampton, Marlborough College, Raffles University, University of Newcastle, Netherland Maritime Institute of Technology (NMIT) and Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS) have also ventured-in to take their place in this emerging sector. In an effort to make Malaysia the education hub for Asia, the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) has targeted 150,000 foreign students for local colleges and universities by 2015. There were already 75,000 international students in Malaysia at the beginning
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Figure 5: List of Private Higher Education Institutions (HEI), as at March 2010
of 2011, studying in institutions ranging from International schools to Type of Institutions Number of Private HEI private and public tertiary education institutions offering diploma, degree 20 and PhD courses. This signifies Private HEI with University Status 22 the acceptance of Malaysia as an Private HEI with University College Status Private HEI with University Status international centre for education. (Foreign University Branch Campus in Malaysia 5 390 Today, Malaysia is acknowledged as Private Colleges one of the pioneers in this region in the development of affordable transnational educational programmes and Source: Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia attracts students from the Middle East, Asia and Africa to its numerous highThe tropical climate is warm and humid quality colleges and universities. “Key attractions of throughout the year without any drastic Malaysian education are One of the key attractions for these weather changes. students is the cost of living, which can low cost of living and be as low as RM11,000 per year, which Malaysia is also geographically-safe affordable tuition fees” works out to just under US$3,000 per from major natural disasters as it is annum. This, and the affordable tuition located in a natural catastrophe free fees, are the reason why many of them zone. As such, from the political, Figure 6: An Example of Comparative Education Cost for a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science (3 years) of an Australian University
Item
Australian Branch Campus Australian University in Malaysia (Estimated Cost) (Estimated Cost)
Savings(%)
Tuition Fees Living Cost Health Insuranc e Average Education Cost for one (1) year
USD7,566 USD2,970 USD54 USD10,590
USD17,489 USD11,351 USD223 USD29,063
56.7 73.8 75.8 63.6
Total Education for Three (3) Years
USD31,770
USD87,189
63.6
Source: MPI Research, StudyMalaysia
are opting for Malaysia as the first choice geographical, social and economical point, Malaysia is a very suitable place when it comes to tertiary education. for students, especially international The Malaysian lifestyle is another students to study and live in. factor. Malaysia offers great lifestyle options at a much more affordable rate The holders of student passes are than many other metropolitan cities in allowed to work in some specific sectors Asia. Accommodation and food are still while studying, to help supplement relatively cheap, and its multi-racial, their living allowances. Subject to other multi-cultural society ensures new immigration requirements, students arrivals feel quite at home in their new are allowed to work part-time for a maximum of 20 hours per week during environment. semester breaks or holidays of more Parents are also more comfortable than seven days. sending their children to study here as Malaysia is a socially secure country Over and above these advantages, with safety measures incorporated in students can enrol in one-degree programme at a Malaysian university the laws of the country.
and earn two qualifications upon graduation – one from the Malaysian university and the other from the reputable foreign partner university. For investors aiming to set up educational institutions to capitalise on a growing market, there are number of requirements they will have to adhere to. These include legislative quality assurance requirements and governing legislation such as the Education Act 1996, as well as the Private Higher Educational Institutions Act 1996.