by AZALEA AZUAR / Pic source Noraini Ahmad’s Facebook

MALAYSIA is on its way to achieving its target of 250,000 international student enrolments by 2025 with local universities having launched many initiatives including offering offshore programmes.

With 131,000 international students currently, the Higher Education Ministry (KPT) has been working towards establishing Malaysia as an international hub for higher education.

Its Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad (centre) said this year alone, she had witnessed the signing of memoranda of understanding between Malaysian universities with their collaborators in India, Qatar, the UK, Romania and Turkey.

Meanwhile, yesterday, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Project Fearless organised the Kuala Lumpur Global Youth Summit 2022 (KLGYS 2022).

With an aim to establish Malaysia’s first public university campus overseas in Qatar, UKM alongside Universiti Sains Malaysia and Universiti Putra Malaysia are listed in the QS World University Rankings 2023 for being in the top 200, whereas Universiti Malaya is in the Top 100.

Noraini said Malaysia has managed to increase its graduate employability rate from 84.4% in 2020 to 85.5% in 2021 despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We attribute this success to the various initiatives with active industry involvement such as the reskilling and upskilling career advancement programme Penjana KPT-Career Advancement Programme; The Teaching Factory initiative; and the establishment of the Government Industry Technical and Vocational Education and Training Coordination Body, which is led by the industry,” she said in her officiating speech at KLGYS 2022.

KLGYS aims to assist young adults gain new insights and skills through engagements with local and international industry leaders to help them prepare for the competitive job market.

Noraini said nowadays, employers not only look at a graduate’s academic performance but they seek those who possess the knowledge and skills that are relevant to the IR4.0 which ranges from digital literacy to soft skills.

“I am pleased that this summit has drawn panel speakers representing different industries from various countries such as Belgium, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Zambia.

“Some of these topics may not be covered in our university classrooms such as ways to tap into individual strengths; understanding mental health; pursuing a career in the entertainment world; the value of digital assets and so on,” she added.