Kuala Lumpur’s placement as the 15th best city globally and fourth in Asia for Employer Activity in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Best Student Cities 2026 rankings reflects Malaysia’s deliberate efforts to align higher education with workforce needs, says Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) chief executive officer Novie Tajuddin.
“KL’s strong showing can be attributed to several key factors, including deep-rooted government-industry-academia collaboration.
Novie
“Our institutions embed industry training, internships, and real-world exposure into their programmes, ensuring graduates are job-ready,” he said.
The Employer Activity metric, one of six indicators used by QS, draws on responses from more than 82,000 international employers as well as a “youth employment bonus” derived from World Bank data, which rewards cities that provide strong employment prospects for young graduates.
Novie said Malaysia’s introduction of the “Graduate Pass” initiative, allowing international graduates to remain in the country for up to 12 months to seek employment, has further strengthened its appeal as a study destination.
He also said that the key contributors to KL’s high employability score include a strong focus on technical and vocational education and training (TVET), and connecting foreign graduates with Malaysian companies looking for global-ready talent.
“TVET institutions across Malaysia equip graduates with specialised, hands-on skills that are directly applicable to industry.
“EMGS also actively facilitates partnerships to bridge the gap between academic training and industry needs, preparing graduates for real-world challenges via bilateral agreements, mobility programmes, and support for professional certification,” he said.
Novie also highlighted the “Professional Certification Hub” initiative, positioning Malaysia as a destination for upskilling in fields like Islamic finance and engineering.
“KL’s ranking confirms that our graduates are not only employable but desirable across sectors. That’s a powerful message to students and employers worldwide,” he said.
He added that the agency will continue investing in digital tools like the “EMGS Hub App” and new outreach strategies to maintain diversity, enhance student services, and support the country’s rise as an international education powerhouse.
Echoing this, Malaysian Association of Private Colleges and Universities (Mapcu) president Datuk Parmjit Singh said KL’s ranking in the Employer Activity metric reflects the “strong and enduring industry linkages” cultivated by private universities located in and around the city.
“Private universities consistently achieve very high employability rates and higher starting salaries for their graduates.
“These outcomes reflect a concerted effort by the private sector to design curricula aligned with market needs and foster robust industry partnerships.
“A strong focus on transforming students into highly employable graduates is also a key feature among top Malaysian private varsities,” he said.
