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For years Malaysia has aspired to be a leading tertiary education hub in Asia. It remains a dream dashed by regional competitors like Japan, China and Singapore.
So far, Malaysia has succeeded in attracting more than 40,000 foreign students from nearly 180 countries. These are students who seek low-cost tertiary education and affordable living expenses which the country offers.
Private colleges and universities vie for a slice of the RM28 million higher education pie. The amount is small compared to the world's global expenditure on education to the tune of RM8.7 trillion.
Malaysia is certainly not the destination of choice when it comes to tertiary education.Even Malaysians -- as many as 50,000 -- choose to study abroad, notably in the US, UK and Australia. Some 30,000 graduates have elected to work overseas after completing their studies.
Wide range of courses
One of the advantages of pursuing tertiary education in Malaysia is the 30 to 40 per cent savings in course fees compared to the charges in the UK, Australia or the US. Muslim students find the country stable, secure and liberal.
Perhaps the biggest draw is the wide range of diploma and degree courses offered by private, public and foreign university campuses. The methods of instruction are traditionally based on textbooks, classroom lectures and rote learning.
Malaysian university education is long on the number of colleges and universities, but it is short on creativity, innovation and English proficiency. It is not about brain power. The emphasis on research is low. The number of patents registered indicates its shortcomings.
What local and foreign students hope to obtain are merely diplomas and degrees in the paper chase. It hardly matters to them whether the colleges or universities are developing knowledge for the real world or skills for the competitive marketplace. They are therefore not prepared for the challenges ahead.
Stability and diversity
Malaysia is way behind countries such as India and China which are producing waves of highly skilled graduates. These countries also provide tertiary education at low costs and in a competitive environment.
True, Malaysia offers other benefits that are often unmatched. For instance, it is politically stable, culturally diverse, religiously tolerant and economically strong. Its variety of food, shopping and natural attractions, cross-cultural exposure and green setting are other pluses.
What local colleges and universities lack are the teaching skills or methodology, English language delivery, content development and research. As a result, they churn out textbook-based graduates without professional and real-world skills. Many of them cannot even write memos or letters in passable English.
The country boasts modern communication and transport, high-rise commercial blocks, peaceful racial integration and fast economic pace. However, research facilities are found wanting. So are recreational facilities. Teaching quality standards are suspect.
In the long run, the winners are foreign university campuses where students can obtain diplomas and degrees without going overseas. Government-funded institutions have yet to project the global image or promote English as one of the media of instruction.
Nevertheless, Malaysia can expect to draw students from the Third World. Whether it will be a top tertiary education hub is anybody's guess.
