Addressing the 10th annual EURIE conference in Istanbul, Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) CEO Novie Tajuddin clarified that Malaysian universities have seen a 26 percent boost in international applications for the last two consecutive years.
Though Malaysia's foreign student intake is 'dominated' by nations like China, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan and India, there had been 'a lot of movement and change' in the past few years as a result of shifting geopolitics in the region, Tajuddin said. Egypt, Yemen, Sudan, Japan and Nigeria are among the other leading sending nations to Malaysia.
Talking to The PIE News, Tajuddin identified Central Asia and Africa as the two largest 'potential' markets for increased international student application growth."The rule of thumb is easy. It is a matter of those countries that wish to expand", he says.
Malaysia is on a drive to make international student admissions to its institutions more streamlined. In January, it was announced that the country's Ministry of Higher Education would introduce a centralised system for applications that would validate and standardise the qualifications of the students.
Higher education minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir vowed that Malaysia would cooperate with the home countries of students to ensure that there is a 'smooth and secure admissions process'.
The country has introduced new ways to welcome international students to Malaysia as a means of ensuring that their experience is a positive one – including a 'fast lane' at the airport when students arrive.
