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Showing posts with label emgs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label emgs. Show all posts

Thursday, 11 April 2024

Malaysia, a magnet for international students

 

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PETALING JAYA: Malaysia has the potential to attract more international students due to its quality education and affordable cost of living.

Malaysian Association of Private Colleges and Universities (Mapcu) president Datuk Parmjit Singh said factors that encourage students to study in Malaysia include the availability of high quality education programmes system delivered by universities with a strong international outlook and well-developed campuses and facilities.

“Tuition fees are relatively lower... (The same goes for the) living cost in Malaysia,” he said, adding that Malaysia also offers a student-friendly social ecosystem to provide the sort of lifestyle sought by international students.

“The tightening of regulations for international students is happening in a few countries, with some mainly due to shortages of accommodation in these countries.

ALSO READ: Growing worry over rising cost of studying overseas

“This does present opportunities for Malaysia to attract those students who are now unable to study in countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada.

“However, factors such as opportunities to work while studying and more inclusive post-study work opportunities – all of which are available to international students in those countries – may need to be enhanced in order to encourage these students to select Malaysia as a preferred alternative destination,” said Parmjit, who is also Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU)chief executive officer (CEO).

Vice-Chancellors’ Council for Private Universities chairman Prof Mushtak Al-Atabi said in order to attract international students to our shores, Malaysia should make itself a more accessible destination.

“There are multiple countries in the region that are competing with Malaysia to be the regional education hub,” said Prof Mushtak, who is also Heriot-Watt University Malaysia provost and CEO.

National Association of Private Educational Institutions secretary-general Dr Teh Choon Jin said it is important for Malaysia to maintain a good reputation in terms of treatment of international students or foreigners in order to entice students to come here.

ALSO READ: INTERACTIVE: How the jobs mismatch may derail Malaysia’s drive to become a high-income nation

“If there is any negative report of ill treatment of foreigners, it may discourage potential international students from pursuing their studies in Malaysia,” he said.

Dr Teh also said these students may face challenges in finding employment opportunities in Malaysia after graduation as there are limited numbers for international graduates, compared to those in countries with more robust job markets.

On the plus side, Malaysia offers great cost savings due to the ringgit’s exchange rate being low compared with countries such as the UK, Australia, Canada and the United States, he added.

Malaysia’s location in South-East Asia with good connectivity to other countries within the region and those beyond the region also makes it an attractive destination to experience Asia, Dr Teh said.

He added that the nation is perceived as a safe country, Muslim-friendly and has a wide variety of food catering to different needs.

“Malaysia has relatively straightforward visa regulations compared to some other countries, making it easier for students to obtain study visas,” said Teh, who is also APU registrar.

Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) CEO Novie Tajuddin said the number of international students coming to Malaysia has been increasing over the years.

He said the principal body that manages the movement of international students in Malaysia, including facilitating visa processing, had received 65,207 applications by the end of 2023.

This is a huge increase compared with 10,453 applications in 2020.

“Malaysia is attractive to international students as (the living cost in the country) is affordable... The people are (also) friendly, and we are advanced in terms of transnational education,” he said when contacted.

“EMGS continues to promote our education, opening the door for new areas, looking into existing policy and working closely with the Higher Education Ministry and to work with other relevant ministries,”

Novie stressed.He also posited that the country could benefit from the tightening of regulations governing international students in other countries such as Canada, Australia and the UK.

Novie highlighted that Malaysia offers a graduate pass for students from 25 countries, including Brunei, Singapore, South Korea, Japan and Australia.

This year, he said, China and India were added to the list of countries that offer the pass.

“The graduate pass allows international students to stay for a year after completing their study.

“In this time, they can go on vacation, progress to the next study level or work in Malaysia,” he added.

The graduate pass is a long-term social visit pass that allows holders to gain multiple entries into the country.

The said pass is offered to international graduates who have completed their degree programmes at local universities and other higher education institutes

Source link:.https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/04/10/a-magnet-for-international-students

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Malaysia, China aim to enhance Research and Education; Malaysian hospitality a win for varsities

 

Sunday, 13 August 2023

Malaysia, China aim to enhance Research and Education; Malaysian hospitality a win for varsities

 



GEORGE TOWN: Malaysia and China will explore the need to increase collaboration in research and education, besides the export of durians, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The Prime Minister said during a closed-door meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that they also touched on regional matters such as an “Asean mechanism” for addressing pressing issues in the South China Sea.

“We discussed education since Malaysia hosts a substantial number of Chinese students at about 60,000, while there are about 7,000 Malaysian students studying in China.

“The Chinese minister also acknowledged the potential for further academic exchanges that could contribute to the growth and development of both countries,” he told reporters when met after the meeting here yesterday.

Anwar said despite sharing strong ties with China, Malaysia would strive to enhance normal diplomatic engagements through a strong, strategic partnership.

“Our strong relationship makes it easier for us to discuss other things because of the good ties we have,” he said, adding that he and Wang Yi touched on various aspects of cooperation and collaboration with a focus on investments, education and regional issues.

“Together with other Malaysian ministers, we also spoke on matters involving the strengthening of relationships on both sides.”

He also thanked Wang Yi for his role in facilitating significant Chinese investments in Malaysia, such as petrochemical giant Rongsheng and carmaker Geely, along with other key players.

The Chinese minister was in the country on a courtesy visit to meet Anwar.

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Malaysia and China to deepen ties in various fields









Malaysian hospitality a win for varsities



Home away home


Vibrant culture, lower cost, and ease of getting a visa among reasons more international students are flocking here.

MALAYSIANS are a friendly bunch and this, according to a recent global survey, is a pull factor for youths from other countries to study here.

The Global Student Experience Survey, conducted by the United Kingdom-based Tribal igraduate, found that overall, 89% of international students were satisfied with Malaysia, which is 2% more than the global benchmark.

In terms of making friends who are locals, 83% of those surveyed said they were satisfied. When it comes to making friends from other countries, 88% of the respondents said they were satisfied, while 85% said they were satisfied with how easy it was to make friends who were their countrymen.

These responses were all above the global average (see infographic), said Tribal igraduate Asia director Guy Perring.

“The friendliness aspect is a real positive for Malaysia,” he told StarEdu.

PerringPerring  

When international students go to the UK or Australia, they can sometimes find it difficult to make friends with the local British or Australians.

“Our data indicates that Malaysians are very friendly people and I think it’s because the country comprises a multicultural society,” he said, adding that the international students surveyed wanted to build a network and not just obtain a paper qualification from their places of study.

“They want to build a network as well as make friends for the future. Our survey contains 150 questions but in terms of friendliness, only three questions were asked.

“We asked about making friends. We asked if they were satisfied about making friends from Malaysia, from their home countries and from other countries.

“If they make friends from other countries, it shows they are in a good international university. If they are making friends from Malaysia, it shows they are integrating well into the society,” said Perring.

Of those surveyed, 84% described their courses as “value for money”.

The survey also showed that more international students were keen to study here with figures from the last quarter of 2022 showing that there was a 17% rise in the number of applications compared to the same period in 2021.

Perring said the nationalities most common in Malaysia – from China, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nigeria, India, Yemen, Pakistan and Sudan – were drawn here by a combination of culture, cost and the relative ease of getting a visa.

“As well as the presence of overseas campuses from Australia and the UK, there is little doubt that the growth is likely to continue,” he said.

According to the survey report, there has been a sea of change in the student experience for both domestic and international students caused by investments in new campuses and facilities, as well as a greater desire to listen to the student voice and ensure student views are incorporated in long-term strategies and appropriate investments.

The rise in international student numbers is due to positive word of mouth, said Perring, adding that about 70% of the students surveyed said they would encourage their friends and family to study in Malaysia.

The three survey questions on friendliness, he said, can be used as a guide for institutions of higher learning to foster greater integration on campus and to provide the necessary social support in terms of social activities.

“While international students should be encouraged to make more local friends, they also need friends from their own home countries,” he said.

The survey was carried out from September to December 2022, with the next round scheduled to be conducted from October to December this year.

Over 120,000 international students and 69,400 domestic students from 146 universities across 17 countries took part in the survey.

NovieNovie

In Malaysia, about 3,500 of the 12,441 international students studying here were involved in the survey.

Commenting on the findings, Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) chief executive officer Novie Tajuddin said the warm culture and hospitality of Malaysians make the country a great place to study.

EMGS, he added, is consistently working on promoting Malaysia and its tertiary education sector in untapped markets.

“To maintain the quality of our education providers, monthly engagement sessions with universities are held to ensure everything is okay.

“We also open the door and streamline Malaysia and various countries in terms of course accreditation. This will enable international students to study here seamlessly,” he said.

National Association of Private Educational Institutions (Napei) secretary-general Dr Teh Choon Jin said the country’s diversity creates acceptance and inclusivity, which make international students feel welcome.

TehTeh

“Malaysia, with our diverse culture and society, has a friendly environment so it is not surprising that international students rate us higher than other frontier markets known predominantly for being destinations for international students,” he said.

He said Malaysian universities that are very successful in attracting international students put great emphasis on enriching students’ experience and ensuring high student satisfaction.

Outside of the classroom, multicultural activities also take place on campus, he added.

With support from the universities, cultural activities and respective national days are celebrated on campus as part of student activities throughout the year, he said.

“Such events usually see a great number of students from different nationalities participating. When we see students of diverse backgrounds gaining an understanding of the many cultures that are different from theirs, it is evident that we have created a successful integration model.

“Our local students also benefit from the enriching learning experience, where they have friends from different countries which would help them in their future careers,” he said.

Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) chief executive officer Datuk Parmjit Singh said apart from a harmonious learning and living environment on campus, students benefit strongly through their engagement with those from various cultural backgrounds, as this provides them with perspectives on how people from different cultures respond to situations and how to communicate effectively with each other.

Parmjit

Parmjit

He said the varsity’s strategy has always been to achieve strong and meaningful integration rather than assimilation.

“Students are encouraged to maintain and showcase their rich cultural heritage while at the same time learning about other cultures and sharing their unique cultural identities. “To make this happen, mental and cultural barriers have to be broken from day one,” he added.

Parmjit said throughout the international students’ time at APU, they are encouraged to appreciate their own cultures, tolerate other cultures and learn from each other.

“These broaden their horizons and ensure that our students graduate as well-equipped global citizens who are capable of adapting to different challenges within the global business environment,” he explained.

APU, with its student body of over 130 nationalities, took part in the Global Student Experience Survey.

Almost half of the students at APU are international students.

Commenting on the survey, Parmjit said both the varsity’s Malaysian and international students experience a diverse cultural mix as global citizens and create long-lasting friendships in Malaysia.

“On the whole, all of APU’s students, regardless of nationality, are very positive about their multicultural experience.

“International students view their Malaysian counterparts to be very friendly and most of our students develop lifetime relationships across the continents that last well beyond graduation.

“APU has always believed in bringing together as many communities of international students as possible from all around the world, without allowing any one country to dominate,” he said.

'I find the people in Malaysia to be generally friendly and welcoming. They often display warm hospitality towards international students, which has made my stay here more enjoyable. The locals are open-minded and accepting of different cultures, making it easier for me to connect and build friendships with them. The country has a diverse and vibrant culture, so it is not at all difficult for me to adapt. I really feel at home here. Additionally, the affordable cost of living and tuition fees compared to other countries allows me to pursue quality education without breaking the bank. While studying in Malaysia has been a rewarding experience overall, I did face some challenges. Language barriers have always existed, especially considering I’m not well-versed in the local language. This made it difficult to get along with some of my coursemates and do classroom activities, and interact with the staff. '– Quazi Isha Nafisa, 24, Bangladesh

'I’ve been here for four years and while the people are friendly, the language barrier is sometimes an obstacle for me to get along with people. The thing that first attracted me to study here is the fact that it has universities that are globally well ranked, and on top of that, they are affordable compared to universities in other countries with the same rankings. As a Muslim, I don’t face many challenges in Malaysia. I find many similarities between Malaysia and my home country. It is very convenient living here.' – Omar Elmanzalawy, 22, Egypt

'Malaysians are known for their warm hospitality and open-mindedness, which have made it easier for me to adjust to this new environment. Additionally, the university’s diverse student community has provided me with the chance to meet people from all over the world, and we’ve formed lasting friendships. The people around me have also been incredibly friendly and welcoming.' – Manaal Kurrumbacus, 21, Mauritius

'When I came to Malaysia, I spoke zero English. I thought I would feel like a stranger and everyone would judge me or not bother befriending me. However, it was completely the opposite. They made me feel like my English proficiency was not a barrier to forming friendships. I was treated like an old friend they’d known forever. Although they all spoke better English than me, it was not an issue to them. Instead, they would teach me English words. Each and every one of them acted like a teacher who is a friend. I will never forget how much it helped me to gain my confidence and build my self-esteem. Malaysians are very welcoming and kind. Most of the people here, be they local or from other countries, bring such a wonderful energy to the conversations we have. Everyone is trying to enjoy their time on campus and get the best out of the experience.' – Mohammed Adel Mohammed Ba Hamid, 22, Yemen

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Navigating the Future of China-Malaysia Relations 

Saturday, 10 May 2014

Al-Shabaah terrorist members enter Malaysia as students and tourists!

Key arrest: Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter Terrorism Unit officers detaining the 34-year-old Somali, believed to be a member of Al-Shabaab terrorist group, in Selangor.

Hunt on for more Somalis

KUALA LUMPUR: The police counter terrorism division has launched a manhunt for at least five other members of the Somali terrorist group Al-Sha­baab who entered the country as college students and tourists.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ah­­mad Zahid Hamidi said the hunt was to ensure that Malaysia did not be­­come a training ground for militant groups.

“Malaysia has never compromised when it comes to militant activities. This (efforts to hunt terrorists) is done continuously,” he told reporters after visiting the Kamunting Pri­­son yesterday.

“We are hunting down several individuals. Some of them are married to local women. They have not set up bases in this country but they share the ideology.”

His comments came a day after a suspected Somali terrorist belonging to the Al-Shabaab group, which is active in Africa and the Middle East, was arrested in Selangor.

The 34-year-old was also on the most wanted list Interpol.

Dr Ahmad Zahid said the man was believed to have entered Malaysia using student passes two years ago and studied in a private college.

Deputy IGP Datuk Seri Mohd Bakri Zinin said police were using all resources to search and detain the remaining members.

Contributed by Malaysia Police nab man linked to Somalian terrorist group By G. Prakash - See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/police-nab-man-linked-to-somalian-terrorist-group#sthash.CzfpTtok.dpuf “We are focused on capturing these dangerous people,” he told The Star yesterday.

According to a source involved in the operation, the counter terrorism unit had been closely monitoring a group of five Al-Shabaab members who had entered the country using altered passports and signed up as students of top private colleges and public universities using fake identities and documents.

“There are strong indications that the group was trying to set up a base here to remain below surveillance.

“We believe authorities in Africa and Europe were closing in on them, forcing some members to flee to Malaysia,” the source said.


Asked why the militant group picked Malaysia, the source said the perception was that the country was “too welcoming”.

“Security at our entry points is deemed to be lax and this is luring the wrong kind of people. It is about time the systems in place are re­­vamped,” the source said.

So far, police have found no signs to suggest that Al-Shabaab had been attempting to recruit Malaysians or forge any form of cooperation with home-grown militants who were detained recently.

The arrest of the Somali man is not believed to be linked to the arrest of 11 Malaysians for involvement with militant groups in Syria and southern Philippines.

- Contributed by Farik Zolkepli

Visas only for qualified foreign students

PETALING JAYA: Foreign students coming into the country must have the required academic qualifications before they are issued student visas, said Education Malaysia Global Ser­­vices (EMGS) chief executive officer Mohd Yazid Abdul Hamid.

He said EMGS served as the first level of screening to ensure that only genuine students who had fulfilled the academic requirements were admitted and that the institutions that they appled for were pro–perly accredited.

“Once they have passed the academic screening, the Immigration department will conduct a security screening on the applicants,” Mohd Yazidsaid yesterday.

The EMGS is a one-stop-centre for international students and manages all aspects of their application.

This includes student passes, review of documents, compliance with academic requirements, issuance of student visas, medical screening and insurance coverage.

Mohd Yazid said records kept by EMGS served as a data bank to track the performance of the students.

“There are cases of those who abused their student visas. For such students, the colleges must submit attendance and academic results for yearly renewal of student visas.

“In this way, we can weed out visa holders who are not genuine students,” said Mohd Yazid.

He said foreign students had to achieve 80% class attendance and the minimum cummulative grade point average 2.0 to qualify for renewal of student visas.

- Sources: The Star/Asia News Network

Police nab man linked to Somalian terrorist group 

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Bakri Zinin said the individual was picked up by Bukit Aman’s special branch counter-terrorism division in Selangor. ― file picture

PETALING JAYA, May 9 — The arrest of a 34-year-old east African man, believed to be a member of Somali-based militant group Al-Shabaab which has links to Al-Qaeda, has raised questions on how he managed to enter the country and if he was involved with other local militants detained over the past few days.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Bakri Zinin, had in a press statement yesterday, said the individual was picked up by Bukit Aman’s special branch counter-terrorism division in Selangor yesterday and is believed to be linked to the Somali-based Al-Shabaab terrorist group.

“He was listed under Interpol’s Red Notice wanted list for his alleged involvement with Al-Shabaab in east Africa,” the statement read.

“Police are investigating his activities in the country to identify if there were any Al-Shabaab terrorist links or members in the country or conducting activities that could jeapordise the nation’s security.”

He is being investigated under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act.

Sources say the suspect, arrested at 4pm, has been in the country for “several weeks” and are not discounting the possibility of more Al-Shabaab members in the country.

Nine individuals, aged between 55 and 22, were arrested by the counter terrorism division on April 28 for their alleged involvement in militant activities.

Three of them were picked up in Kedah and six in Selangor. Another individual was arrested in Kuala Lumpur the following day while another suspect was nabbed in the city on May 2.

They were believed to have been planning to participate in the on-going civil war in Syria. Al-Shabaab enjoys close ties with Al-Qaeda and are believed to have aided Boko Haram militants in the attack on Nyanya Motor Park in Abuja last week claiming the lives of over 200 people.

It remains unclear if the foreigner was connected to the 11 locals arrested. Sources say it is highly unlikely but police will probe the matter.

IGP Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar had, in recent days, stressed the nation’s laws were adequate to protect Malaysia from militants and warned members of militant groups not to recruit Malaysian youths to join them.

The nation’s porous borders have been highlighted since Flight MH370 went missing on March 8 after two Iranians entered the country and boarded the Malaysia Airlines plane with fake passports.

Earlier this year, police rescued several Myanmar nationals smuggled into the country by a human trafficking syndicate through Thailand.

A series of kidnappings, abduction and robberies in Sabah’s waters, and the influx of foreigners entering the state, has also irked many parties, including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, despite the establishment of the multi-million ringgit Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) after the Lahad Datu incursion early last year.

- Contributed by G. Prakash MalayMailOnline

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