Page 21 - AEI Insights 2019 - Vol. 5, Issue 1

AEI Insights: An International Journal of Asia-Europe Relations, Vol 5, Issue 1, 2019, ISSN: 2289-800X

INTERNATIONALISATION OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN
MALAYSIA: INSIGHTS FROM HIGHER EDUCATION
ADMINISTRATORS

+
M.Miandy Munusamy
Azirah Hashim

Asia-Europe Institute, University of Malaya
50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

+ Corresponding author: miandy781121@gmail.com

Abstract
The rationale for internationalisation of higher education can be political, economic, socio-
cultural as well as academic and incorporates motivations for assimilating an international
element into higher education. Malaysia aspires to create a higher education system that ranks
among the world’s leading education systems. The country has had a strong focus on
internationalisation since the introduction of the National Higher Education Strategic Plan
2007-2020. Its internationalisation rationale requires that extensive initiatives and strategies
are in place for the country. The study aims to evaluate the rationale for international
cooperation in the Malaysian higher education internationalisation agenda. The qualitative
study using expert sampling was conducted through semi-structured interviews with 15
officials in the Malaysian public higher education sector. The interview data was analysed
using the qualitative data analysis software Nvivo-11. The findings indicate that the Malaysian
higher education system focuses on the economic and socio-cultural rationale moderately
supported by the political and academic rationale. The study also identifies that international
networking through international cooperation is crucial in strengthening Malaysian higher
education internationalisation. The results can assist higher education administrators and
policymakers to design a comprehensive internationalisation policy to realise Malaysia’s aim
to become an excellent international higher education hub and attract 250,000 international
students by 2025.

Keywords: Internationalisation of higher education, Malaysian higher education system, international
cooperation, networking and rationale for internationalisation

Introduction
A recent global trend is the formation of higher education hubs and internationalisation of
higher education (MOE, 2015, p. 8-1; Vidya & Gauri, 2014). Five countries, namely, South
Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Malaysia are seen to be competing among each
other to become an excellent international education hub in Asia (Clark, 2015). Malaysia’s key
aspiration is to create a higher education system that ranks among the world’s leading education
systems which will allow it to compete in the global economy (MOE, 2015). The goal of
becoming a regional education hub by 2020 (The Economic Planning Unit, 2010) was revised
and upgraded to becoming an international higher education hub through the launching of the
new policy document, the Malaysia Education Blueprint - Higher Education 2015-2025 (MEB-
HE 2015-2025) (MOE, 2015, p. 8-4).

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