Boost intake of foreign student

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has urged the Higher Education Ministry to boost the number of foreign students studying in Malaysia to 200,000 by 2020. He estimated that these students could contribute RM15 billion to the country's economy.

"Every foreign student will spend, including on tuition fees, about RM46,000 every year.

"For those who bring their famillies, they will each spend about RM88,000 annually,' said Najib, whose speech was read out by Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh at the 9th National Academic Awards (9th NAA) presentation last night.

Present were Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Mary Yap Kain Ching, Higher Education Secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Zainal Ujang and Higher Education director-general Datuk Professor Dr Asma Ismail.

The prime minister was upbeat over the growing number of foreign students from 45,000 in 2007 to 106,000 now.

"This is an increase of more than 100 per cent compared with (the number of foreign students) in 2007."

Najib said the value of the higher education sector stood at RM33 billion for this year, covering the allocation set by the Federal Government for development expenses, scholarships provided by various agencies, development expenditure for private higher learning institutions and tuition fees paid by foreign students.

Apart from attracting more foreign students to study in Malaysia, the prime minister said the government had formed research universities (RUs) and efforts were underway to establishe the five RUs in the top one per cent of the world's best universities.

"On this premise, we have managed to reduce the number of Malaysian students seeking to pursue their PhDs abroad, and indirectly saved on outflow of cash worth at least RM2 billion between 2007 and 2012 alone."

The prime minister expressed hope that the NAA recipients would capitalise on their strengths by becoming the guides, movers and catalysts of the country's prosperity.

Idris said the NAA recipients' contributions had been massive and not only limited to their respective universities and students.

"As the higher education minister, I will make sure that the award recipients help the ministry to spearhead the transformation agenda of the national higher education delivery (system) and aid the country to become a developed nation."

Source: New Straits Times