Malaysia
Transforming into a Regional Hub for Education
Spurred by government efforts and private-sector initiatives,
Malaysia is attracting an increasing number of students from
around the world. These students opt for the added experience
of exotic culture, the pleasure of studying in the warm tropics
and the affordability of international diploma/degree programmes
that are moderated and/or validated by reputable universities.
Ten years ago, this would not have been possible,
even unthinkable. Now students, including those from developed
countries, are choosing to study in Malaysia. This makes perfect
sense. Why stay home and study for a degree that is also being
awarded by the same university but in a different location?
By choosing to study in Malaysia, students experience Asian
cultures in a way that is practically impossible unless they
work in Malaysia.
For Asian students, Kuala Lumpur provides the
perfect alternative route to obtaining the right qualifications.
The education is quality. The options are many. There is no
cultural shock. The climate is conducive. The food is varied.
The living is affordable. The accommodation is comfortable.
The transport is convenient. The city is international. The
people are friendly. The environment is safe. The government
is stable.
A Global Network Of Strategic Collaborations
Over a period of 40 years, Malaysia has moved
rapidly from an agricultural base to an industrial centre.
Now it is focused on becoming a knowledge-based economy. Government
aspirations to be able to design, originate and create have
resulted in projects that are now attracting companies from
around the world to invest in incubating new technology. The
demand for highly skilled human capital has rocketed, catalysing
government and private-sector investment in training and educational
infrastructure.
The infrastructure includes not just the physical
provision but the creation of strategic collaborations with
the global academic community. Some of the world's most established
universities and colleges have twinning, credit transfer and
branch campus arrangements that have transformed the sector
into a dynamic and exciting regional gateway for education.
In line with the strategy to make Malaysia a
centre of international education, degree providers are bringing
their programmes to the doorstep of those seeking quality
education. Thus, programmes are more affordable and can be
conducted in a conducive location and a cultural environment
that is more friendly to Asians. The skew towards Asians is
based on the fact that an increasing number of Asians enrol
into universities in the more developed countries such as
the US, Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand.
Gateway To Quality Education
Malaysia's role as an exporter of education
broadened in the wake of the 1997-1998 currency crisis that
eventually engulfed most of the world. For Malaysia, it meant
cutting costs, especially the outflow of funds. A serious
outflow was in education as thousands of Malaysians pursued
academic qualifications and training overseas. Many fields
of study were then not available in the country. The simple
solution was to provide the education right here in Malaysia.
This led to a restructuring and reformation of the education
sector. Today, the sector is a significant contributor to
foreign exchange earnings, with the country becoming the Asian
gateway to international diploma/degree studies that were
previously not available in the region.
A Model Nation
Malaysia has notched up rapid growth, mainly
through the visionary efforts of a government that has moved
a nation to embrace technological advancement as the means
to progress. It is a country where the private and public
sectors combine their efforts to move forward. In place today
are many projects that provide employment opportunities and
vital training centres for a new generation.
Malaysia is a model for other developing nations,
which find it difficult to relate to the more developed countries
that have gone too far ahead with no way of providing a growth
pattern that they can identify with and emulate. These developing
nations are sending their youth to pursue education in Malaysia...
who then form friendships that further strengthen relations
between the countries.
Global But Local
Asia is huge. Its collective population base
is more than two billion, and the consumer base is influencing
global trends in trade, commerce, entertainment and other
socio-economic areas. The Asian input and understanding of
things Asian are gaining both importance and momentum.
Apart from providing international education
through its arrangements with foreign universities, Malaysia
is also building its strength by providing education that
is tailored to Asian cultures and needs.
Malaysia is an important educational destination,
because it provides the perfect location to obtain exposure
to Asian cultures, thanks to its multi-cultural, multi-religious
and multi-lingual cross-section of Asia's diverse cultures.
In addition, the increasing presence of students from around
the world gives a valuable cross-cultural experience that
would be a necessary exposure for today's younger generation
as they work and interact in a global environment.
Author
Tan Sri Dato' Dr Lim Kok Wing
Chairman of the Limkokwing International Education Group
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