Malaysian educational institutes eye Indonesians

By Rita A. Widiadana

JAKARTA (JP): Malaysia is emerging as an advanced education center in the Southeast Asian region with its growing international-standard higher learning institutions.

Encik Mohd Zain Abu Bakar, temporary charge d'affairs of the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta, confirmed that about 15,000 foreign students are now studying at hundreds of colleges, universities, institutes, polytechnics and various professional courses in Malaysia.

Abu Bakar said here during a recent exhibition on Malaysian Education that Malaysia has some of the finest institutions of higher learning, with standards of academic excellence that have gained worldwide recognition. The education sector receives the highest percentage (25 percent) of the state budget.

Malaysia has been actively promoting its education services to neighboring countries such as Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, Thailand and the Philippines.

The recent exhibition, held in Jakarta, Surabaya in East Java and Pekan Baru in Riau, was the second; the first was held last year in Jakarta, Bandung in West Java and Medan in North Sumatra.

"It is easier for students in Pekan Baru to continue their education in Malaysia because the city is so close to Kuala Lumpur," Abu Bakar said.

Currently, there are over 400 higher learning institutions in Malaysia, including nine state universities. Thirty elementary level to tertiary level institutions in Malaysia took part in the exhibition.

Among the institutions was Utama International School, which caters for children from the age of 5 up to 17. Kolej Tuanku Ja'afar is the first and an independent secondary boarding school in Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus.

Universiti Putra Malaysia, set up in l931, claims itself as the model university of the 21 Century. The university is well- known for its Research and Development and Science and Technology Center for higher learning in Malaysia.

The Sedaya College, which set up an agreement with the University of Manitoba, the University of Winnipeg and the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, offers a wide range of subjects.

Applied sciences, medicine programs, engineering, business and finance and computer and information technology are among the college's best programs.

Charles N., executive director of Taylor's College, which has about 300 Indonesian students, explained that the most favorite subjects for Malaysian as well as foreign students are Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, Business and Commerce.

He said foreign students will benefit from studying at Malaysia's universities because it will be less costly.

"The quality of education that we offer is similar with that provided by universities in Western countries, while at the same time, it can save costs of up to 50 percent," he said.

If you are single, you will need at least RM 7,000 (US$1,823) a year for living expenses, covering accommodation, transport, food, clothes, health and entertainment.

Most of the colleges are now affiliated with international institutions in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and the United States.

Taylor's College, for one, is affiliated with the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom, the University of Technology in Sydney and the University of Illinois in the U.S.

Monash University Sunway Campus Malaysia in Selangor is the first foreign-based campus in Malaysia, and Monash University's seventh campus. The university focuses on Business and Commerce, Business and Information Technology, Communications, Engineering, Science and Nursing.

Mohamed Salleh Bin Mohamed Yasin, Vice Chancellor of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, which has 400 Indonesian students, said Malaysia benefits from its historical ties with the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries like Australia and Canada.

"We don't have any language barrier. Although we are proud of our Malay language, English has become the second official language for education and business," said Mohamed Yasin, the university's professor and medical mycologist.

The curriculum of elementary to tertiary education is adjusted to those in foreign countries, he added. "Graduates of Malaysian high schools, or undergraduates, can easily continue their schooling abroad."

For the last 30 years, the Malaysian government has been active in providing quality education for its citizens. Students are given scholarships to study abroad, including to Indonesia.

"I was proud to graduate from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in Bandung, West Java, one of the best institutes in the region," said Mohamed Yasin.

Between the l960s and the l970s, a large number of Malaysian students studied at Indonesian state universities like ITB, the University of Padjadjaran in Bandung, the University of Indonesia in Jakarta, the University of Gadjah Mada in Yogyakarta and several Teachers' Training Colleges.

"Overseas graduates work hard to apply their knowledge and expertise for the improvement of Malaysia's education system. We are now gathering the fruits of our labor," he said.

Rina Sugiyono, a mother of an Indonesian student in Malaysia, said that her son's school environment is very conducive compared to that of Indonesian high schools.

"There is no tawuran (student brawls) or drug traffickers because the punishment is hard. I feel safe to send him there," she said.

Tini Sachlin, an Indonesian high school teacher in Kuala Trengganu, Malaysia, said she was quite sad to realize that Indonesia is now lagging behind Malaysia in education.

"In l968, I was sent to Malaysia to teach its students because, at that time, the country lacked teachers," recalled Tini, who formerly taught at SMA 3 high school in Bandung.

She said the Malaysian government really has a strong commitment to education and the welfare of teachers and lecturers.

"If you visit Malaysia, it will be difficult to find dilapidated school buildings even in small villages. Teachers receive high salaries and are respected in society," she said.

All universities are equipped with high-tech equipment, sports facilities and other supporting items.

"It's no wonder that many foreign students begin to eye the opportunity to study there. To compete with Malaysia, the Indonesian government must reform its education system immediately, otherwise its universities will have no students."