AUCKLAND, July 14 — Malaysia is prepared to send an additional 100 Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara)-sponsored students to New Zealand following placement restrictions in the United States, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Several universities in New Zealand have expressed their readiness to accept Malaysian students, in line with the government’s efforts to expand competitive and viable overseas education destinations.
“Several universities in New Zealand have offered placements to Mara-sponsored students, and possibly also to those sponsored by Petronas, the Public Service Department (JPA), and other agencies.
“I have set a key performance indicator (KPI) for Malaysia’s High Commissioner to New Zealand Mazita Marzuki to ensure the success of this initiative,” he told the press after attending an engagement session with the Asean-New Zealand Business Council (ANZBC) today.
Zahid added that there are currently only 690 Malaysian students in New Zealand, a figure significantly lower than in the past, partly due to the wider availability of courses in Malaysia and the rising cost of overseas education.
“I hope this new development will help increase the number of Malaysian students here once again,” he said.
Commenting on efforts to attract New Zealand students to Malaysia, Zahid said that currently, only 20 New Zealand students are pursuing studies in the country.
Such efforts must be intensified through the offer of short-term courses lasting three to six months, in collaboration with institutions like Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) and Universiti Poly-Tech Malaysia (UPTM).
“If there is sponsorship from New Zealand agencies or its government, we can accommodate more of their students, especially in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) fields,” he said.
There are currently six technical universities under the Malaysian Technical University Network (MTUN), recognised by the National TVET Council and the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA), making them among the top choices for foreign students interested in technical education.
Zahid, who is also the National TVET Council's chairman, highlighted the potential for collaboration in green technology and renewable energy — a key strength of New Zealand, where 87 per cent of the country’s energy is generated from renewable sources.
“This area is important for our engineering students. Malaysia has begun focusing on green energy, but exposure to new technologies like those here is greatly needed,” he said.
Malaysia could be a strategic partner in technology sharing, as the country has 1,398 TVET institutions covering various sectors under the oversight of 17 ministries.
As such, the Deputy Prime Minister proposed reactivating student exchange programmes with the support of the Malaysian High Commissioner in New Zealand, to further refine suitable fields of study.
Zahid is currently on a five-day working visit to New Zealand beginning today, as part of the government’s ongoing commitment to strengthening bilateral relations that have remained close for 68 years.
The visit also aims to explore strategic cooperation in several sectors, including defence, agriculture, education, and the halal industry.
— Bernama
