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Malaysia Strives For Value-Driven International Education Hub

Enhancing appeal & competitiveness in the region and beyond

Cyberjaya, 27 September 2017 – The strives to make Malaysia emerges as an international education hub with a different outlook which provides value-driven and globally relevant education.

According to the Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Datuk Dr. Mary Yap Kain Ching, the hub will be recognised by students around the globe for its balance of quality and affordability, good quality of life and rich cultural experiences.

“Ultimately, these efforts will strengthen Malaysia’s higher education value proposition, capacity and capabilities in order to enhance the appeal and competitiveness in the region and beyond,” she said at the International Students Sports Carnival 2017 (ISSC 2017) Opening Ceremony in Dewan Tun Canselor, Multimedia University, Cyberjaya, yesterday. Also present was the President of MMU, Prof. Datuk Dr. Ahmad Rafi Mohamed Eshaq and the Director of Student Development Division MOHE, Assoc Prof. Dr. Sopian Bujang.

Dr. Mary Yap pointed out that, the efforts are in line with the first shift outlined in Malaysia Education Blueprint 2015-2025 (Higher Education) which fosters holistic and balanced graduates. With the blueprint, “The ministry strives towards producing quality graduates who are equipped with the right academic, right attitudes and soft skills,” she added.

In the two-day sport carnival hosted by MMU, there are 550 participants from various countries representing 19 local higher learning institutions will be competing in seven games. Commenting on the ISSC 2017, Dr. Mary Yap said, the role of the carnival in fostering sport among students is very crucial because a healthy body is a prerequisite for better learning. “We hope to produce graduates who will excel tremendously, not only in academic pursuits but also in sports and extra-curricular activities. “In our efforts to develop quality human capital for the nation, we are aware that mere academic qualification is not enough,” she said.

Prof. Datuk Dr. Ahmad Rafi said that MMU was proud to host the ISSC 2017 which served as an enabler to inculcate healthy and productive integration amongst international students from various ethnics and nationalities from the public and private higher learning institutions in Malaysia. “This is very important because sports has been proven to be very effective 'social glue' which is the enabler for contributing 'bonding' capital by increasing social connectedness and a sense of belonging,” he said.

Student of Environmental Science programme from United States of America, Karissia Pfantz, 22, said, she was very excited to participate in ISSC 2017 for the first time in her life. “I believe this is a very good opportunity for me get to know my fellow international students from various institutions,” the student of Universiti Perguruan Sultan Idris (UPSI) said.

An engineering student of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Niks Gerlach, 26, from Germany said, he is very happy to contribute to his institution by participating in ISSC while MMU student, Fahim Shahrian, 22, from Bangladesh, said, he will try his very best to break new record for the carnival.