KUALA LUMPUR: The Higher Education Ministry wants foreign students to make up 10% of student enrolment in both public and private higher education institutions.

Higher Education Management Department director-general Prof Datuk Dr Hassan Said said that this target had been set in the National Higher Education Strategic Plan 2007-2010.

“We want to encourage the internationalisation of Malaysia’s higher education environment by attracting overseas students equivalent to 10% of the total student population at all academic levels.

“We also aim to increase the enrolment of foreign students here from the current 50,000 to 100,000 by 2010,” said Prof Hassan in his speech at HELP University College’s 11th strategy seminar here yesterday.

He acknowledged that it would be difficult to achieve the target but the ministry was intensifying its promotion activities abroad and was seeking to raise the standard of Malaysian universities.

“The setting up of the Malaysian Qualifications Authority last year, which oversees both public and private institutions, would also ensure that quality is maintained,” said Prof Hassan.

Other goals set by the ministry include having at least two Malaysian universities among the best 200 universities in the world; developing at least 10 centres of excellence which are internationally recognised in terms of research output, and ensuring that at least 75% of lecturers in public universities, and 30% of lecturers in private and community colleges possess PhD degrees.

• FBM KLCI down, Asian indices up in early trade
• Market may hit record high
• Malaysia's economy probably cooled
• Earnings boost for AirAsia
• Tune to sign Mideast deal for hotels, Tune Talk and Tune Money services

• Experts say Iran has 'neutralized' Stuxnet virus
• Bacon portrait fetches $34 million in London sale
• US captive charged with trying to kill Pakistan's Musharraf
• China's Xi pushes back on U.S. demands
• Greek leaders blow chance of quick EU bailout approval

• Golf-Riviera's lure guarantees top-class field
• 'Linsanity' touches down in star-struck Canada
• Athlete Yunus to lodge police report to clear his name
• Jegathesan calls for an independent body to probe allegation
• Bolt sneaks into Germany to meet controversial doctor

• Banks to raise credit card balance rates
• Common sense not so common
• PAS firm on Bangi cinema ban
• Firefly’s newly launched campaign offers RM19 getaways
• New deadline for 6P exercise
• Study on EDL toll fees
• 251 new AGE cases reported
• Consider rotavirus vaccination
• Year One boy flees from kidnappers
• Full rice yield still unrealised