Recently, the Malaysian government has introduced five new initiatives to address the decreasing marketability of graduates and these initiatives include the KPT-Career Advancement Programme (KPT-CAP), Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Transformation Programme, Teaching Factory programme, flexible and micro-credential programnmes, as well as mobility programmes. This proactive approach towards increasing the quality of their education is not new in Malaysia, where the government spends close to 5 percent of its GDP on education which is higher than the world average. Aside from the government, the people of the country have an unwavering attitude towards quality education and advocate its importance. The Malaysian government has also commissioned the Higher Education Leadership Academy (AKEPT) in order to ensure a top-notch talent pipeline for the higher education institutes of the country and this is done to ensure the quality of education in Malaysia.  Aside from that, in order to enhance the talent levels and employability of their students, Malaysian universities nurture a strong industry-institute relationship.                

Also, over the years, Malaysia has been able to build a well-structured higher education system with over 100 institutions that include public and private universities, as well as the foreign branches of world-class educational institutions from the US, UK, and Australia to name a few. Owing to this, Malaysia has been able to create a great higher education platform that is appealing to both local and international students. As of now, Malaysia is home to over 170,000 international students who represent 162 countries. And the fact that even amidst the pandemic in 2021, the country received 40,000 international student applications just acts as a testament which showcases the increasing popularity of Malaysian higher education among international students. A major share of the international students in Malaysia is pursuing engineering, tourism, and business related programs and in this article, we will discuss why this is the case and what makes Malaysia a great destination for international students.    

Cutting edge engineering curriculum

In Malaysia, engineering colleges prioritize on developing both the inter-personal and technical skills of the students. And the new engineering education model followed in the country aims at strengthening the professional and scientific competency base of engineering studies. At the same time, engineering colleges in the country are aiming to combine various practical, global, and industrial skills with humanistic, global and strategic skills to ensure the holistic development of their students. Apart from that, by combining AI, robotics, alternative energies, and communication technologies with a major emphasis on sustainability, Malaysian universities are able to create the perfect learning environment for future world-class engineers. And owing to all this, Malaysian engineering colleges are regularly ranked amongst the best in the world.    

Sunway University is a leading private university in Malaysia and they are a great prism through which one could analyze engineering education in Malaysia. This research-centric educational institution is widely known for their high standard of teaching and top-tier infrastructural facilities. The university has been constantly updating their curriculum in order to keep pace with the changing technology trends and industry requirements. And through their programs, Sunway University is aiming to nurture problem solving and critical thinking capabilities among their students and prepare them for the future requirements of the engineering industry while still giving major emphasis on sustainability. And on their quest to be ahead of the technology and industry curve, the University comes up with new and innovative programs that best suits the learners.      

Industry-centric tourism education

There are undergraduate and Master’s Degree tourism programs starting from INR 2, 80, 000 in Malaysia and when compared to other top-notch higher education destinations such as the US where similar programs starts from around INR 10 to 15 lakhs, Malaysia is a great value for money option. On top of the already low tuition fees, aspiring international students have plethora of partial and fully funded scholarship opportunities to choose from in Malaysia. Other than that, owing to the fact that students will be interacting with people from different countries across the globe, they will not only be able to develop great communication skills but their cross-cultural learning will also develop. And being an industry without any boundaries, studying in Malaysia will help you to be a global citizen in its true sense. Malaysian educational institutions are also known for its attention to detail and this can rub-off on the students which can help them become better professionals in the tourism industry.

The School of Tourism, Hospitality and Environmental Management (STHEM), Universiti Utara Malaysia is one unique tourism education provider that offers multiple programs in both undergraduate and postgraduate level and they even offer custom designed international undergraduate programs. Through their programs, STHEM is aiming to be a career accelerator for their students and the institute is committed to offer research-centric and hands one education to their learners. Some of the unique facets of the programs offered by STHEM includes: a) their hospitality students are given hands-on training in housekeeping, serving and preparing four-course gourmet lunches, and b) to expose students to technology, the institute trains their tourism students using the latest software. Aside from that, they train their students through experiential learning methodologies and practical experiences. And at the same time, the institute provides ample space for each individual student to explore their creativity and by doing so, acquire holistic development.     

Value for money business education  

Over the years, Malaysia has developed into one of the favorite higher education destinations for students who aspire to purse MBA. Apart from the top Malaysian universities that offer MBA programs like the University of Malaya, Universiti Putra Malaysia, and Universiti Sains Malaysia, top international institutions such as The University of Nottingham have their business schools in Malaysia. Another aspect that makes management education easy in Malaysia is the fact that both the tuition fees as well as the living expenses are low when compared to other world-class international higher education destinations. With high quality MBA programs starting from around INR 8 lakhs, and living expenses costing around INR 2 to 3 lakhs per annum, Malaysia is a great value for money option for students. This coupled with the easy visa and immigration rules for international students in Malaysia make it even more appealing for international students.        

The 1^st year tuition fee for MBA program offered by the University of Malaya costs around INR 7.58 lakhs and even at such a low cost, the University has structured a rigorous programme that strives to expose the students to both the theoretical and practical aspects of management education. At the same time, University of Malaya strives to ensure that their curriculum is constantly updated according to the changing requirements of the industry. Also, through the combination of lectures, assignments, project works, presentations, case studies, and class discussions, University of Malaya enables their students to increase their employability multifold.      

Over the last decade, Malaysia has been able to develop into an international higher education hub and by 2025, the Malaysian government is aiming to have 250,000 international students in the country. And while there are plenty of great academic options both in terms of courses and educational institutions in Malaysia, it is important that you choose one that fits your aspirations the most. And for you to evaluate educational institutions in Malaysia, use ratings from SETARA and MyQuest as these can give you a more comprehensive and in-depth evaluation of Malaysian institutions and the quality of education they provide.