KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia wants to attract international students from a wider range of countries rather than relying on just a handful, says Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir (pic).
The Higher Education Minister said the initiative would benefit Malaysian students by exposing them to a broader range of global perspectives.
“Having more students from abroad will make Malaysia a better and more attractive study destination,” he told reporters after the closing ceremony of the International Young Future Leaders Summit (IFuture 2026) yesterday.
Currently, about 130,000 international students from 180 countries are studying in Malaysia, he said. Zambry added that the ministry aims to attract 250,000 international students by 2030.
He said the national economy would also benefit from international students, who contribute about RM60bil to the economy, excluding the economic benefits generated for other businesses through the multiplier effect.
On a separate matter, Zambry said the ministry has a system to track graduates’ employability for three years after graduation.
He was responding to Sekijang MP Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa’s suggestion that the ministry introduce a specific indicator to measure the proportion of graduates securing jobs with decent wages, taking into account their qualifications, type of employment, and cost of living.
At the summit, Zambry said the three-day event included interactive sessions with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Amar Fadillah Yusof, and the Mentris Besar of Johor and Selangor.
“This initiative is to develop the leadership of the younger generation, including Malaysian youths.
“It is also to cultivate a global mindset so they can gain a deeper understanding of people from other countries who come here to study,” he added.
IFuture 2026 attracted more than 1,200 student leaders from 60 countries.
