MALAYSIA

MALAYSIA: Foreign student numbers soar

The number of foreign students in peninsular Malaysia has risen more than 30%, which augurs well for the country’s aim of becoming a regional hub of educational excellence, reports The Star. A total of 65,000 foreign students enrolled in international schools and both private and public institutions of higher education last year, compared with 48,000 in 2006.

Quoting figures released by the Immigration Department, Higher Education Ministry Marketing and International Education Division director Dr Mohamed Nasser Mohamed Noor said the increase could be attributed to the ministry's new identity abroad – “Malaysia Education”.

“We are now confident of surpassing the 100,000 target by 2010,” he said last week, adding that Indonesia and China were the biggest markets, followed by the Middle East and African countries.
Full report on The Star site