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3.4 Pre-University

After the SPM, students from public secondary school would have a choice of either studying Form 6 or the matriculation (pre-university). If they are accepted to continue studying in Form 6, they will also take the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (which is usually abbreviated as STPM) or Malaysian Higher School Certificate examination (its British equivalent is the General Certificate of Education 'A' Levels examination or internationally, the Higher School Certificate). STPM is regulated by the Malaysian Examinations Council. Form 6 consists of two years of study which is known as Lower 6 (Tingkatan Enam Rendah) and Upper 6 (Tingkatan Enam Atas). The STPM is known to be a little simpler than the GCE A levels, covering a smaller but just as deep scope in syllabus. Although it is generally taken by those desiring to attend public universities in Malaysia, it is internationally recognised and may also be used, though rarely required, to enter private local universities for undergraduate courses.

Additionally all students may apply for admission to matriculation which is a one or two-year programme run by the Ministry of Education. Previously, it was a one-year programme, but beginning 2006, 30% of all matriculation students were offered two-year programmes. Not all applicants for matriculation are admitted and the selection criteria are not publicly declared, which has led to speculation that any criteria existing may not be adhered to. A race-based quota is applied on the admission process, with 90% of the places being reserved for the bumiputeras, and the other 10% for the non-bumiputeras. The matriculation programme is not as rigorous as the STPM. The matriculation programme has come under some criticism as it is the general consensus that this programme is much easier than the sixth form programme leading to the STPM and serves to help Bumiputeras enter the public university easily. Having been introduced after the abolishment of racial quota based admission into universities, the matriculation programme continues the role of its predecessor, albeit in modified form. It is considered easier because in the matriculation program the teachers set and mark the final exams that their students sit, whereas in the STPM the final exam is standardised and exam papers are exchanged between schools in different states to ensure unbiased marking. Also, the matriculation programme adopts a semester basis examination (2 semesters in a year) whilst STPM involves only one final examination, covering all 2 years' syllabus in one go. The scope and depth of syllabus in matriculation is also lesser to that of STPM. The disparity between the programmes does not end there, for it is a known fact[citation needed] that in critical courses offered by local public universities (such as Medicine, Pharmacy, Dentistry and Law), almost 70% of the students comprise matriculation students. On the contrary, STPM students forms the majority in courses which are less in demand, such as a Bachelor in Science. Defenders of the matriculation programme have described the two programmes as distinct and different, drawing the analogy of an apple and an orange. However, having serve the same purpose (i.e. as an entrance requirement to Universities), the Malaysian public is criticising the matriculation programme as a blatant practice of double standards.

The Centre for Foundation Studies in Science, University of Malaya, offers 2 programmes only for Bumiputera students : i) The Science Program, a one year course under the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Higher Education. After completing the program, the students are placed into various science-based courses in the local universities through the meritocracy system. ii) The Special Preparatory Program to Enter the Japanese Universities, a two year intensive programme under the Look East Policy Division of the Public Service Department of Malaysia in cooperation with the Japanese Government.

Some students undertake their pre-university studies in private colleges. They may opt for programmes such as the British 'A' Levels programme, the Canadian matriculation programme or the equivalent of other national systems - namely the Australian NSW Board of Studies Higher School Certificate and the American High School Diploma with AP subjects. More recently, the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is becoming more popular as a pre-university option.

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3.5 Tertiary

Tertiary education in the public universities is heavily subsidised by the government. Applicants to public universities must have completed the Malaysia matriculation programme or have an STPM grade. Excellence in these examinations does not guarantee a place in a public university.The selection criteria are largely opaque as no strictly enforced defined guidelines exist.

The classification of tertiary education in Malaysia is organised upon the Malaysian Qualifications Framework (MQF) which seeks to set up a unified system of post secondary qualifications offered on a national basis both in the vocational as well as higher educational sectors.

In 2004, the government formed the Ministry of Higher Education to oversee tertiary education in Malaysia. The ministry is headed by Mustapa Mohamed.

Although the government announced a reduction of reliance of racial quotas in 2002, instead leaning more towards meritocracy. Prior to 2004, all lecturers in public tertiary institutions were required to have some post-graduate award as a requisite qualification. In October 2004, this requirement was removed and the Higher Education Ministry announced that industry professionals who added value to a course could apply for lecturing positions directly to universities even if they did not have postgraduate qualifications. To head off possible allegations that the universities faced a shortage of lecturers, Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Fu Ah Kiow said "This is not because we are facing a shortage of lecturers, but because this move will add value to our courses and enhance the name of our universities...Let's say Bill Gates and Steven Spielberg, both well known and outstanding in their fields, want to be teaching professors. Of course, we would be more than happy to take them in." He went on to offer architecture as an example whereby well-known architects recognized for their talents did not have a masters degree.

The academic independence of public universities' faculty has been questioned. Critics like Bakri Musa cite examples such as a scientist who was reprimanded by Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak for "publishing studies on air pollution", and a professor of mathematics at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia who was reproved for criticising the government policy of teaching mathematics and science in English at the primary and secondary levels.[8]

Students also have the choice of attending private institutions of higher learning. Many of these institutions offer courses in cooperation with a foreign institute or university. Some of them are branch campuses of these foreign institutions.

Many private colleges offer programmes whereby the student does part of his degree course here and part of it in the other institution, this method is named "twinning". The nature of these programs is somewhat diverse and ranges from the full "twinning" program where all credits and transcripts are transferable and admission is automatic to programs where the local institution offers an "associate degree" which is accepted at the discretion of the partnering university. In the latter case, acceptance of transcripts and credits is at the discretion of the partner.

The net outflow of academics from Malaysia led to a "brain gain" scheme by then (1995) Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamed. The scheme set a target of attracting 5,000 talents annually. In 2004, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, Datuk Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis in a parliamentary reply stated that the scheme attracted 94 scientists (24 Malaysians) in pharmacology, medicine, semi-conductor technology and engineering from abroad between 1995 and 2000. At the time of his reply, only one was remaining in Malaysia.

 

3.5.1 Postgraduate Programmes

Postgraduate degrees such as the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) are becoming popular and are offered by both the public universities and the private colleges.

All public and most private universities in Malaysia offer Master of Science degrees either through coursework or research and Doctor of Philosophy degrees through research.
 

 

3.5.2 Vocational Programmes and Polytechnics Schools

Besides the university degrees, students also have the option of continuing their education in professional courses such as the courses offered by the ICSA (Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators) etc. Polytechnics in Malaysia provide courses for diploma level (3 years) and certificate level (2 years).

The following is a list of the public polytechnics in Malaysia.

* Ungku Omar Polytechnic
* Politeknik Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah
* Politeknik Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah
* Politeknik Kota Bharu
* Politeknik Kuching Sarawak
* Politeknik Port Dickson
* Politeknik Kota Kinabalu
* Politeknik Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah
* Politeknik Johor Bahru
* Politeknik Seberang Perai
* Politeknik Kota, Melaka (Version)
* Politeknik Kota, Kuala Terengganu
* Politeknik Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin
* Politeknik Merlimau
* Polytechnic Of Sultan Azlan Shah or Politeknik Sultan Azlan Shah
* Politeknik Kulim
* Politeknik Sultan Idris Shah
* Politeknik Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin
* Politeknik Muadzam Shah
* Politeknik Mukah

Universities produce almost 150,000 skilled graduates annually.

 

3.5.3 Universities

Public universities in Malaysia are funded by the Government and are governed as self-managed institutions. Apart from the University of Malaya and the MARA University of Technology which were established by two separate enabling Acts of Parliament , the other public universities in Malaysia were created by executive order as per the provisions of the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971. Until recently, the Ministry of Higher Education was responsible for seven intuitions bearing the title University College. These have since been upgraded to full universities and there are currently no public university colleges.

1. Johor

University of Technology, Malaysia

Tun Hussein Onn University of Malaysia

2. Kedah

Northern University of Malaysia

3. Kelantan

University of Malaysia, Kelantan

4. Kuala Lumpur

National Defence University of Malaysia

University of Malaya

5. Melaka

Technical University of Malaysia, Melaka

6. Negeri Sembilan

Islamic Science University of Malaysia

7. Pahang

University of Malaysia, Pahang

8. Pulau Pinang

University of Science, Malaysia

9. Perak

Sultan Idris University of Education

10. Perlis

University of Malaysia, Perlis

11. Sabah

University of Malaysia, Sabah

12. Sarawak

University of Malaysia, Sarawak

13. Selangor

International Islamic University Malaysia

National University of Malaysia

MARA University of Technology

Putra University, Malaysia

14. Terengganu

Darul Iman University, Malaysia

University of Malaysia, Terengganu

 

The establishment of private universities and university colleges were made possible with the passage of the Private Higher Educational Institutions Act 1996. Prior to that, private institutions of higher learning existed but were not authorized to confer their own degrees. Instead, they acted as preparatory institutions for students to undertake courses of instructions in preparation for externally conferred degrees.

1. Kedah

AIMST University

Insaniah University College

2. Kuala Lumpur

Multimedia University

Asia e University

Asia Pacific University College of Technology and Innovation

HELP University College

International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance

International Medical University

International University College Of Technology Twintech

Kuala Lumpur Metropolitan University College

Open University Malaysia

Tunku Abdul Rahman University

UCSI University

University of Kuala Lumpur

3. Melaka

Multimedia University

Melaka Manipal Medical College

4. Negeri Sembilan

INTI University College

Nilai University College

Linton University College

Malaysia Theological Seminary

5. Penang

Penang Medical College

Wawasan Open University

6. Perak

Petronas University of Technology

7. Sarawak

Curtin University of Technology

Swinburne University of Technology

8. Selangor

Al-Madinah International University

Binary University College of Management and Entrepreneurship

Cyberjaya University College of Medical Sciences

Industrial University of Selangor

Kuala Lumpur Infrastructure University College

Limkokwing University of Creative Technology

Malaysia University of Science and Technology

Management and Science University

Monash University

Multimedia University

University of Nottingham

Selangor International Islamic University College

Sunway University College

Taylor's University College

Tenaga Nasional University

Tun Abdul Razak University

9. Terengganu

TATI University College

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