Public and private graduates struggle for employment

According to Penang Institute's analysis of the Education Ministry's 2013 data, 27 per cent of private sector graduates stayed unemployed six months after graduation, compared to 24 per cent of their counterparts from the public sector.

Penang Institute observed that only one private varsity, Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP), received a five-star rating in the ministry's "MyRa 11" list. About 78 per cent, it said, were not rated at all.

On the global stage, five private varsities made it to the QS-Asia ranking list for last year, with only UTP taking a spot in the 191-200 range, it said.

The report also pointed out that approximately 45 per cent of local colleges and universities are operating without inadequate assets to cover existing liabilities, putting some at the risk of bankruptcy.

Penang Institute conducted its study using publicly available financial information on 41 private universities, eight foreign branch campuses and 27 university colleges in Malaysia.