- Malaysia to send 100 more MARA-funded students to New Zealand, amid tighter U.S. placement rules and efforts to diversify overseas study destinations.
- Deputy PM Ahmad Zahid pushes for stronger academic ties, including short-term technical courses for Kiwi students in Malaysia and student exchange revival.
- Collaboration eyed in green energy and TVET, with New Zealand's renewable energy expertise seen as valuable to Malaysia's sustainability agenda.
Malaysia will send another 100 Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA)-funded students to New Zealand due to tighter placement requirements in the United States. The move was announced by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi during his working visit to New Zealand, who cited the country's willingness to accept more Malaysian students.
A number of New Zealand universities have also offered places to MARA-sponsored students, with prospective placements for those sponsored by Petronas, the Public Service Department (JPA), and other organizations.
Ahmad Zahid stressed that diversification of foreign study opportunities for Malaysian students is important, especially with local institutions now having more courses to choose from.
Now, only 690 Malaysian students are in New Zealand, a drastic drop compared to past years. Ahmad Zahid linked this to increasing overseas education fees and the improving quality of local programmes. He hoped that the new programme would reverse the trend.
On enrolling New Zealand students in Malaysia, Ahmad Zahid said there were only 20 studying in the country. He suggested three- to six-month short-term courses, especially in technical and vocational areas, as a means of increasing the number.
Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) and Universiti Poly-Tech Malaysia (UPTM) could be among institutions responsible for such arrangements.
Malaysia's technical universities under the Malaysian Technical University Network (MTUN) are recognized by the National TVET Council and the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) and hence are a good choice for foreign students.
Malaysia's Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Ahmad Zahid also pointed towards future cooperation in green technology and renewable energy, sectors New Zealand is strong in.
"New Zealand produces 87 per cent of its energy from renewable sources. Such knowledge is worth to our engineering students as Malaysia widens its green energy programme", he added. Ahmad Zahid suggested reviving student exchange programmes with assistance from Malaysia's High Commissioner in New Zealand, Mazita Marzuki, to identify suitable fields of study. His five-day working trip is to bolster bilateral relations, with talks on defence, agriculture, education, and the halal industry.
