KUALA LUMPUR: Private institutions of higher learning (IPTS) must compete with public institutions of higher learning (IPTA) to make Malaysia a regional hub for higher education. Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said IPTS should see it in the context of National Key Economic Activities (NKEA) and tap cluster education to propel the economy to higher level.
“IPTS has a big role to play with some 75,000 foreign students in the country and 150,000 targeted by 2015,” he said when opening the new campus of Kolej Teknologi Yayasan Pendidikan Cheras (YPC) in Taman Maluri, Cheras yesterday.
The Education Minister said IPTS should become factories to produce quality and highly skilled professionals to meet demands of the new economic model.
“We must dare to compete and create excellence not only at domestic level but also globally to make Malaysia an international education hub.”
He said the government is always monitoring IPTS to ensure that the subjects offered meet standards and address job market demands.
“The government is making the education sector an economic investment to attract foreign students.” On the new campus, Muhyiddin hopes that it can elevate the status of education in the country to be on par with leading foreign institutions. “I deeply appreciate efforts targeted at students from middle and low income families who do not get places in IPTA.”
Meanwhile, YPC chairman Datuk Syed Ali AlHabshee said construction of the RM32 million campus started in July 2009.
At the ceremony, thirty Business and Information Technology foundation programme students received Star-YPC scholarships. —Bernama