Malaysian government wants to attract 200,000 international students by 2020

The government aims to attract at least 200,000 international students to Malaysia by 2020, further cementing the country's status as one of the world's largest exporters of educational services.

These foreign students are expected to generate RM600 million in contributions to the economy. Growth is expected to be led by the private sector.

Malaysia is currently the world's 11th largest exporter of educational services, providing a place to study for over 90,000 students from over 100 nations. In efforts to become a desired study destination by 2020, a number of initiatives and policy changes have been instituted:

• facilitating the private sector to provide market driven programes
• streamlining immigration processes for students
• supporting niche study areas such as Islamic finance and executive education, and
• attracting foreign universities to set up branch campuses in Malaysia

Latest news is that Al-Azhar University, Xiamen University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University will be establishing their first foreign branch campuses in Malaysia.

Related news:

• Al-Azhar University to open temporary branch campus in Nilai next year
• Xiamen University to set up first Chinese branch campus in Malaysia
• Shanghai Jiao Tong to set up branch campus in Sarawak