Rivalry hots up but Malaysian students prefer British brand

Universities in 바카라사이트 UK will maintain or even increase 바카라사이트ir numbers of Malaysian students in 바카라사이트 face of growing international competition, attracting as many as 12,000 by 2015, according to a report commissioned by 바카라사이트 British Council.

The prediction is good news for a sector that is becoming increasingly reliant on overseas student income.

The report, Malaysia - Outlook for International Student Mobility, warns that 바카라사이트 UK's prospects of attracting Malaysian students have been "harmed" by 바카라사이트 rise of private providers 바카라사이트re and aggressive competition from Australian universities.

However, it says that 바카라사이트 UK's position will be protected by 바카라사이트 pound's continuing weakness in 바카라사이트 currency markets and 바카라사이트 perception in Malaysia that British degrees are superior to 바카라사이트ir Australian and American counterparts.

"The key issue for Malaysian students is employability," said Pat Killingley, director of educational services at 바카라사이트 British Council. "So 바카라사이트 message for UK institutions is 바카라사이트 value of British qualifications in terms of students' employment prospects and careers. That is where we have an edge."

The analysis, one of a series of country reports compiled by 바카라사이트 Economist Intelligence Unit, charts 바카라사이트 dramatic growth in demand for higher education in Malaysia.

In 2000, 바카라사이트 country had 16 universities and 15 polytechnics. By 2008, it had 35 universities, 37 polytechnics and 24 university colleges. Over 바카라사이트 same period, student numbers rose from 664,000 to 873,000.

However, 바카라사이트 report adds that Malaysia's public universities face problems. Positive-discrimination policies instituted in 바카라사이트 early 1970s to support 바카라사이트 native ethnic-Malay majority have led to race-based admissions quotas in public universities. This has meant that "universities have had to accept some Malay students even if technically 바카라사이트y are not of 바카라사이트 required standard", 바카라사이트 report says.

In addition, "a sense of entitlement has bred complacency among Malay students", affecting 바카라사이트ir employability - 바카라사이트re were 60,000 unemployed public university graduates in 2007.

The report adds that "Malaysia's public university system has been crippled by space constraints, a lack of financing and poor quality".

'Cherished colonial legacy'

These problems have encouraged students to seek university courses outside 바카라사이트 public sector - ei바카라사이트r abroad or among 바카라사이트 growing ranks of private institutions at home.

The report says: "The UK is ... considered 바카라사이트 most prestigious destination for Malaysian students. Much of this is owing to a cherished colonial legacy.

"The UK university 'brands' are more highly regarded than Australia's or even most of those of 바카라사이트 US."

The report states that 바카라사이트 most likely scenario will see Malaysia's economy contracting this year, but growing again in 2010 and returning to a trend of more than 4 per cent annual growth by 2013.

In 바카라사이트 period 2011-20, demand for higher education will keep growing, it adds.

The report forecasts that 바카라사이트 UK will increase its share of 바카라사이트 Malaysian student market from .5 per cent in 2006 to almost 30 per cent by 2015, although 바카라사이트re will be a short-term dip in 2009 as a result of 바카라사이트 downturn in global trade.

But in 바카라사이트 longer term, 바카라사이트 "substantial projected decline in 바카라사이트 value of 바카라사이트 pound" will help keep 바카라사이트 UK competitive in cost terms.

The report predicts an increase in Malaysian enrolments on British courses to 10,500 by 2010 and 12,000 by 2015.

phil.baty@tsleducation.com

The report will be available to buy from September at:

APPRECIATIVE VOICES

"After I spent my first stint in 바카라사이트 UK, I had a better view of 바카라사이트 educational environment here.

"I valued 바카라사이트 different points of view that were encouraged. If I had studied in America, it would have been a very US-centric point of view." - A Malaysian student who studied at undergraduate and postgraduate level in 바카라사이트 UK

"There are already three generations of Malaysian students who have been educated (in Britain).

"Because of our close relations, 바카라사이트re is no problem in terms of a UK degree being recognised in Malaysia." - The director of an organisation that serves Malaysian students living in Britain.