MALAYSIA is introducing a suite of measures to consolidate its standing as a regional centre for higher education, including a centralised admissions platform for international students and a comprehensive 10-year Higher Education Plan. Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapha Sakmud said the initiative, alongside an updated Internationalisation Policy, is intended to guide universities as they compete for global talent.
"We are putting together the Malaysia University Centralised Admissions System to improve efficiency, accessibility, transparency and competitiveness in attracting international students," Mustapha told the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (Dec 4).
He added that the ministry would streamline applications through Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) and bolster the role of international student offices as one-stop centres for welfare, housing, healthcare, and cultural activities.
"At the same time, we will not compromise on the quality of higher education. The Malaysian Qualifications Agency is strengthening its work to ensure academic standards and university capacity continue to improve," he said, noting that Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions would also benefit from similar enhancements.
Mustapha highlighted Malaysia’s growing profile abroad, particularly in West Asia, Africa and South Asia, and credited the country’s role as ASEAN Chair this year for further raising its visibility.
He said the improved performance of Malaysian universities in global rankings, including the QS World University Rankings, has already attracted increased international interest.
In response to concerns about the impact of rising international enrolment on local students and academic quality, Mustapha emphasised, "Our focus will always be on our children – Malaysian students.
That is not something we will compromise. We aim to expand international enrolment mainly at the postgraduate level, especially in research, where foreign expertise can add value. But for undergraduate or mainstream programmes, priority remains with Malaysians."
Data released by the ministry shows that 20 public universities enrolled 53,322 international students last year. Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) accounted for 27,669 of these, predominantly from China, Indonesia, and Bangladesh.
Among these, 13,986 were undergraduates and 39,336 postgraduate students, with postgraduate programmes attracting the highest numbers from China, Iraq, and Indonesia. - December 4, 2025
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