Idris delivery his speech at the Higher Education Ministry’s monthly assembly. — Bernama photo
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia and Germany have been recognised as the best among 26 countries in terms of openness and other aspects towards international higher education, by the British Council.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said in a study done by the body, Malaysia and Germany scored ‘very high’ in three categories, namely openness, quality assurance and recognition, and access and sustainability, thus putting the overall score also as ‘very high’.
He said this in his speech at the Higher Education Ministry’s monthly assembly, here, yesterday.
From the research findings, “The Shape of Global Higher Education: National Policies Framework for International Engagement” report published by the British Council, states that besides Malaysia and Germany, the top five include Australia, United Kingdom and China.
The main objective of the study was to evaluate the 26 countries’ policies in support of different aspects of international higher education (IHE).
“Countries which appear to have the most balanced portfolios of policies are Germany and Malaysia, both performing strongly against all the broad IHE categories,” the report says.
Indonesia scored ‘high’ in openness, ‘low’ in quality assurance and recognition, and ‘very high’ in access and sustainability, Thailand and Turkey (high, low, very high), India (high, low, high), Brazil (high, very low, high), Egypt (low, low, high), and the United States (high, low, high) respectively.
Idris, in his speech, also noted the ministry’s various achievements including the launching of the Institutions of Higher Education Entrepreneurial Action Plan 2016-2020 to change the mindsets of graduates to generate jobs instead of seeking one.
He said the National Higher Education Fund Corporation, had meanwhile managed to collect back RM270 million from the borrowers last month compared with RM237 million in March, with the target this year being RM2 billion.
At the assembly, Idris also launched the ‘Empowering of Bahasa Melayu as Language of Knowledge at Institutions of Higher Education Action Plan Book’ and the World Universities Squash Championships 2016, to be held at the Nicol David Arena in Bukit Jalil from Sept 5 to 11. — Bernama