Graduating on time is Malaysia's target

Just one of many problems to be resolved and addressed in the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2015–2025.

Malaysia plans to increase the number of university students, raising enrolment rates from the current 36% to 53% over the next 10 years.

With the urge to become more financially independent, universities in Malaysia plans to take these four measures to help achieve this vision:

1. Performance-linked funding

Government funding given to universities will be linked to their performance to ensure the money is well used. Education loans given to students will also be linked to the students' performance and their family’s income.

2. Technology

The Ministry plans to reduce the cost of delivery using technology. Common undergraduate courses will be converted into massive online open courses (MOOCs), and 70% of university programmes will be required to use “blended learning”, with part of the course taught digitally.

3. Graduating on time

About 25% of students in Malaysian universities overstay their course duration. By making sure that students graduate on time, the government could save on these subsidies. Students who delay could be penalised.

4. Talent management

The Ministry is introducing four career tracks for university staff so that their performance can be measured. Teachers, researchers, practitioners and leaders will be evaluated based on those KPIs.