Najib: Malaysia to recognise more degrees from India

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PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian government will take necessary actions to recognise more degree programmes from India especially in Information Technology (IT) and engineering, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Speaking at a joint media conference with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi here yesterday after engaging in a bilateral meeting, Najib said Modi had called for Malaysia to look at recognising more Indian degrees especially in the field of IT and engineering.

Najib also pointed out that many Malaysians had received their education in India particularly in medicine.

As he took stock of the call, Najib said the Malaysian government would ask the Higher Education Minister as well as Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) to discuss with the relevant authorities in India.

“We will take immediate action and discuss with the appropriate and relevant authorities in India.

“This will enable us to recognise more degrees from Indian universities and polytechnics and technical colleges and more Indian degrees to be made available to Malaysia,” he said.

Najib also said Malaysia and India are keen to promote greater cooperation in traditional medicine Ayurveda and expand the development and usage of Ayurverda, one of the world’s oldest holistic healthcare systems.

“We will look into expanding the development and usage of the traditional medicine,” Najib said.

In turn, Modi said he was very pleased with India-Malaysia’s excellent and growing cooperation in traditional medicine including Ayurveda and Siddha.

Ayurvedic medicine — which means the ‘science of life’ in Sanskrit — treats the physical and mental sources of illness through, for example, prescribing herbs in conjunction with yoga or massage.

According to the World Health Organisation, 65 per cent of India’s rural population uses Ayurvedic remedies, mostly due to poor access to modern health facilities.

Today, the global market of Ayurvedic medicines or traditional medicines is estimated at about US$100 billion. — Bernama