PUTRAJAYA: The Higher Education Minister says the MyBrain15 sponsorship programme will return next year.
Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the programme would be known as MyBrain 2.0.
“This programme aims to increase the number of advanced degree holders to meet the needs of intellectual human capital and local expertise to support national development,” he said when launching the programme at the ministry’s office on Thursday (Oct 26).
“The government has agreed to introduce and re-implement this scholarship programme in 2024,” he added.
However, the conditions of the contract and its implementation would be tightened while the system would also be more digital and user-friendly, said Mohamed Khaled.
He also said the ministry is targeting 500 applicants per year from members of the public who are not working or have regular incomes, including lecturers from private higher education institutes (IPTS) who wish to continue their Master's and PhDs.
He also said the ministry allocated RM20mil for each intake, beginning in January.
The MyBrain15 programme was introduced in 2011. It was a part of the National Higher Education Strategic Plan to produce 100,000 researchers and PhD holders in 15 years. Mohamed Khaled launched it.
The Pakatan Harapan government suspended the programme in 2018. At the time, 56,910 students were pursuing postgraduate studies.
According to a MyBrain impact study done by the Higher Education Ministry in 2020, the programme positively impacted graduates' marketability and career advancement.
