KUALA LUMPUR: Education providers should make necessary changes to their curricula and mode of delivery to produce graduates to galvanise the country’s economy, in tandem with the innovation-driven New Economic Model.
As such, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Khaled Nordin said, tertiary institutions should provide education for sustainable national development and comparable with the world’s best.
He said that meant local graduates were exposed to all aspects of public awareness and were trained through their educational, training and research sessions which enhanced their understanding … and empowered them to assume responsibilities for creating and enjoying a sustainable future in Malaysia.
He said this at the Stamford College’s 60th Anniversary Lecture here yesterday.
Mohd Khaled’s speech was read by his special advisor Prof Dr Zakaria Abas.
The minister said it was also crucial that local tertiary institutions be developed into internationally accepted entities that surpassed national limitations.
He said this was also driven by the fact that there was a growing number of international students pursuing tertiary education in the country.
“This development, coupled with globalisation trends which allow mobility to locals to seek employment at international levels, necessitates our higher education to be internationally acceptable in terms of quality.
“Our institutions have to be fully aware of this phenomenon,” added Mohd Khaled.
Moving forward, he said that although the ministry would continue to be regulator and enforcer of government policies, emphasis would be given in its role as facilitator and leader partner in enhancing the higher education ecosystem.
“The lead partner does not only provide strategic direction, it also offers the support necessary to ensure the success of the institutions,” he added.
Currently, there are 20 public universities, 46 private universities and university colleges, 27 polytechnics, 42 community colleges and 485 private colleges in the country. — Bernama