Budget 2023: Higher Edu Ministry wants bigger allocation for digitalisation plan

KUALA LUMPUR: The Higher Education Ministry is hoping for a large allocation in Budget 2023 to realise its digitalisation plan.

Its secretary-general Datuk Seri Abdul Razak Jaafar (pic) said if digitalisation is to be the main focus in the higher education sector, the cooperation of the Economy Ministry and Finance Ministry would be needed.

"Both ministries need to work hand in hand with us to achieve it,” he said when appearing as a guest recently on Bernama TV's Ruang Bicara Wacana Akademia with the topic "Higher Education Leadership: Aspirations and Current Challenges”.

The programme also saw the participation of Higher Education Leadership Academy director Prof Datuk Dr Nasrudin Mohammed.

On Jan 30, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said in his New Year 2023 mandate the ministry’s digitalisation plan will focus on all aspects of management, education, learning and services.

"Currently, it is in the mid-term review process. We are asked to review the targets that have been set and the minister wants digitalisation to be one of the targets under the Education Ministry for the future.

"This will be translated in the form of a budget or allocation, which we will apply for in the third and fourth rolling plans and under the 13th Malaysia Plan,” he said.

He said the ministry also took into account advancements in ICT to change teaching and learning methods at institutions of higher learning.

"When we were hit by Covid-19, many activities stopped, so at the time we could not operate as usual. In the new normal, it means that changes to the learning and teaching methods need to be adopted.

"There needs to be a digital learning and teaching method," he said.

Meanwhile, Nasrudin said the academy's core function and role is managing the best talent in the higher education sector and this included identifying, profiling, developing and monitoring potential leadership.

"Our focus is to create signature programmes that are not only focused on the leadership of public universities, but also members of boards of directors and (expand this) to private universities.

"Apart from that, the academy needs to be recognised as a centre of excellence for higher education leadership not only in the country, but also in Asean," he said. – Bernama