JAKARTA: Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir opened Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's offshore centre here today, marking a significant step in enhancing the global recognition of Malaysian education.
He said the new centre was expected to elevate the rankings of Malaysian universities and enhance the country's presence on the international stage, particularly by bolstering UKM's global profile amid growing international demand for Malaysian education.
"Our strategy to attract foreign students and export educational services is proving successful. This is evident from Malaysia's growing educational presence in places such as Qatar and Indonesia," he told reporters at the event in North Jakarta.
UKM has become the first Malaysian public university to establish an offshore education centre, having opened its campus in Doha, Qatar, in May.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Mohd Ekhwan Toriman said the centre will offer a range of high-quality education courses in partnership with eight other Malaysian educational institutions to students in Indonesia and the region.
The collaborating institutions include Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Mara, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Multimedia University, University of Cyberjaya, and Spectrum International University College.
"We will provide a variety of study programmes, including bachelor's and master's degrees, professional qualifications, micro-credentials, and mobility programmes, covering fields such as information technology, law, engineering, education, medicine, and pharmacy," Ekhwan said.
"I believe these programmes will meet current market needs and enhance research capabilities in the future."
Also present at the event were Malaysian ambassador to Indonesia Syed Md Hasrin Tengku Hussin and Education attaché Zulfadhli Hamzah.