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Asian universities gear up for global competition
The strong private higher education sector has been developed predominantly in partnership with overseas institutions so is already a global entity. Moves to internationalise the public universities reflect those of Korea. Professor Dato’ Dzulkifli Abdul Universiti Sains Malaysia, Vice-Chancellor of one of Malaysia’s leading institutions, presenting on the theme ‘Venturing into the International Arena: An Agenda for Transformation’, announced that “USM would undergo a comprehensive transformation that would encompass administration, students, research, and even attitudes and work ethics. The rationale behind the transformation is to develop USM into a university that would be held in high esteem internationally.”
"Of Malaysia's 36,000 foreign students, 4,000 are estimated to be studying at postgraduate level."
Korea University’s ‘frog in a well’ analogy was also reflected in his speech. Challenging students to play their role in this paradigm shift, Dato' Dzulkifli asked them, “Will you have the courage to transform by freeing yourselves – just as the pupa emerges from its cocoon – from the constraints that have trapped your minds?”, urging them to open their minds and, among other things, to include foreign students in their activities.
At another top public university, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, about 800 of the 8,500 postgraduate students are from foreign countries, mainly the Middle East and neighbouring Southeast Asia. The number of international students has been increasing and the university envisages a continual upward trend. UKM already claims to have the highest number of international postgraduate students of any Malaysian university.
But why do these foreigners choose to come to Malaysia to pursue their postgraduate studies and what do they hope to achieve? UKM Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Datuk Ikram M. Said attributes it to “Malaysia's cosmopolitan nature, lower fees, efficient staff and positive reports from those who have studied here.”
Malaysia's Muslim tradition is an important factor in attracting students from the Middle East and from other Muslim countries. The fact that international students can submit their theses in English, Malay or Arabic is a major plus point. Rofiqal Islam al Zaw Win feels very comfortable to be amongst Muslim brethren, "Halal food is not a problem and there are many mosques nearby," he says.
SINGAPORE
Singapore has long been noted for its capacity to innovate and for successful implementation of sound long-term economic and social policies, negating the disadvantage of a tiny population and turning its geographic and demographic resources to maximum advantage. It is currently achieving this yet again in the sector of international education and, in the process, expanding still further the regional advanced study options for Asia's ambitious graduates.
With just two long-established universities of its own and a new one now growing fast, its provision seems quite limited compared with that of countries of similar population, e.g. New Zealand with eight and Hong Kong with seven. However, instead of opting for the obvious and building new indigenous universities, former Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s irrepressible vision came in to play. Top overseas institutions were invited to set up branch campuses and programme partnerships with Singapore's universities in key areas of specialisation.
Simultaneously, Singapore’s private education sector forged partnerships with overseas universities to deliver their degree programs ‘offshore’. This brought globalisation of higher education to Singapore at a stroke and laid the foundations for the influx of students from the region, at the same time broadening Singapore students' horizon and experience, and hence their employability.
Singapore was the first South East Asian country to create a government-sponsored body to promote international education in its institutions. Singapore Education is running recruitment exhibitions of its own in key Asian countries and participating extensively in World MBA Tour/World Grad School Tourin 2004. Beginning on the following page of Top Grad School Guide, in full cooperation with Singapore Education, is an extensive feature on masters and PhD study in Singapore.
