Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir announced the incoming changes to the international admissions process in a speech on January 9, as the ministry continues with its broader higher education transformation agenda, which partly looks to authenticate and standardise qualifications submitted by international applicants looking to meet entry requirements for their desired institutions in Malaysia.

The minister signalled the changes to come during a speech made at the University of Technology Malaysia located in Skudai, and reinforced the ministry’s priority to ensure that all international students coming to Malaysia hold legitimate qualifications, verified by the ministry.

“This centralisation effort is one of 10 key areas outlined under the transformation agenda this year,” Zambry is quoted in the Malay Mail.

The minister signalled a dedicated committee has been established to enact the changes, with preliminary discussions underway to determine how the system will be implemented.

“The centralised system will utilise advanced algorithms and blockchain technology, enabling instant verification of qualifications and certificates submitted by international students,” added Zambry.

The centralised system will utilise advanced algorithms and blockchain technology
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“We will also collaborate with the respective countries of these applicants to ensure a smooth and secure admission process,” he said.

Currently, the Malaysian Qualifications Agency handles international student admissions, but Zambry suggested the process could be made more efficient.

The Ministry of Higher Education in Malaysia has been working towards positioning the country as an international higher education hub since 2012, making it an attractive destination for Asian students looking to stay closer to home.

Although the country’s initial goal of hitting 200,000 international students by 2020 fell through during the pandemic, the country is working towards hitting 250,000 by 2025.

According to Education Malaysia, there was a spike in interest from students from East Asia in 2023, with a total of 29,195 applications received last year, compared to 23,818 the year before. A staggering 26,627 of them were from China, representing a noticeable increase on 2022 level, when there were 21,975 students from China studying in Malaysia.

In comparison, pre-pandemic, there were 14,142 applications from East Asia in 2019. Some 12,174 of these applicants were from China.