Ministry maintains aim of 60,000 PhD holders by 2023

The Higher Education Ministry is committed to its aim of producing 60,000 PhD degree holders by 2023 to produce more highly educated people and meet the nation's need for research and innovation, reports Fernando Fong for New Straits Times.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said there are 23,000 PhD degree holders in the country presently. “As of September 30, a total of 54,035 students had been provided scholarships under the MyBrain15 initiative, at a cost of MYR800.2 million [US$191 million].”

"The scholarships will continue to be given out and under the 11th Malaysia Plan, MYR500 million (US$119 million) had been allocated for the purpose,” he said in a reply to Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud (Amanah – Kota Raja constituency) during the Minister's question time in parliament.
Full report on the New Straits Times site