PUTRAJAYA: The Higher Education Ministry has proposed Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) to become the first public university to set up a student exchange programme with Heriot-Watt University Malaysia.
Its minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh mooted the idea of forming a smart partnership with the top UK university’s campus in Malaysia after
it received the International University of the Year award from The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2018.
“We will try to collaborate with Heriot-Watt. Our local students will come here to study for one semester to get the exposure and to improve their English.
“I'm thinking of UKM as the first university for the exchange programme,” Idris told reporters after touring the Heriot-Watt campus here today.
Present was Heriot-Watt University Malaysia's chief executive officer and provost Professor Mushtak Al-Atabi.
“But both parties need to work on a special fee structure that is affordable for the local undergraduates,” Idris added.
Known for its quality UK education, the Scotland-based Heriot-Watt University is currently ranked among the top 50 universities for international outlook according to the World University Ranking 2018.
The university has five global campuses in the UK, Dubai and Malaysia. It also has partners in 150 countries and over 30,000 students worldwide.
On foreign students’ visa applications, Idris reiterated that the waiting period has been cut short from 14 days to six.
Foreign students applying to study in higher education institutions in Malaysia can get their Visa Approval Letter (VAL) done online via the Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS), a unit under the ministry.
“But they are still not allowed to work in the country due to legal concerns,” he said.
There are an estimated 134,000 foreign students studying in Malaysia this year.
EMGS chief executive officer Datuk Professor Dr Rujhan Mustafa said his office processes an average of 70,000 foreign visa applications per year.