Sunday March 9, 2008

Branding Malaysia

By TAN SIN CHOW

educate@thestar.com.my

THE number of foreign students in peninsular Malaysia has risen more than 30%, which augurs well for the country’s aim of becoming a regional hub of educational excellence.

A total of 65,000 foreign students enrolled in international schools and both private and public institutions of higher education last year, compared with 48,000 in 2006.

Quoting figures released by the Immigration Department, Higher Education Ministry Marketing and International Education Division director Dr Mohamed Nasser Mohamed Noor said the increase could be attributed to the ministry's new identity abroad – “Malaysia Education”.

Dr Mohamed Nasser (standing, right) talking to visitors to the Star Education Fair 2008 at the Higher Education Ministry's booth in Penang.

“When we go to foreign countries for education road shows, we are known as Malaysia Education.

“This new identity, which was adopted in February last year, proved effective in our efforts to penetrate the foreign market.

“We are now confident of surpassing the 100,000 target by 2010,” he said at the Star Education Fair 2008 held in Penang last weekend.

Dr Mohamed Nasser said Indonesia and China were the biggest markets, followed by the Middle East and African countries.

He added that the total number of students from China and Indonesia was 15,000, with another 9,000 from the Middle East.

”This year, we intend to promote Malaysia Education in 70 destinations worldwide. We will also organise education road shows in Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan.”

As Malaysia is a cosmopolitan country, foreign students from China and Indonesia would feel at home here, Dr Mohamed Nasser said.

“Communication-wise, these students have no problems as the local Chinese speak Hokkien, Cantonese and Mandarin.

“The same applies to Indonesian students. They face no difficulties here as the Bahasa Indonesia they speak is similar to Bahasa Malaysia.

“One can secure the best Asian education here.”

Dr Mohamed Nasser also said foreign universities had set up their branch campuses in the country.

“Malaysian students need not travel to the United States, United Kingdom, Australia or New Zealand to study as they can enrol in the branch campuses of foreign universities such as Nottingham, Monash and Curtin here,” he added.