Pedagogical
sciences/ 4. Strategic directions
of reforming the
education system
M.Utemisov West Kazakhstan State University,
Kazakhstan,
S.Seifullin Kazakh Agro Technical University,
Kazakhstan,
Characteristics of Higher Education
System in Malaysia
The
system of higher education in the world is currently undergoing major
modification; these changes include changes in the structure of higher
education, changes in the interaction, cooperation with international
universities. For Kazakhstan's education system is of special importance its
participation in regional integration and the processes occurring in the
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and, more broadly - on the scale of
Southeast Asia. Both the
integration process - within the CIS and South-East Asia. Thus, in both cases
as one of the main objectives of the integration problem is formulated to
create a general educational space uniting the comparability of educational
standards and qualifications, maintaining a high quality of education,
extension mobility, and simplicity of procedures of recognition. One of the
most attractive countries for Kazakhstan students is Malaysia.
Malaysia is
a federal constitutional monarchy in Southeast
Asia. It consists of thirteen states and three
federal territories and
has a total landmass of 329,847 square kilometers separated by the South China
Sea into
two similarly sized regions, Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian
Borneo. Malaysia is unique in its specificity. It has incorporated the
features of different cultures, and yet preserved the culture, identity,
national traditions and customs.
Despite
the fact that Kazakhstan and Malaysia have different histories, traditions and
cultural heritage they share the desire to join the world community education,
and improve the competitiveness of students and lecturers.
Higher
education in Malaysia is currently undergoing significant changes; it is
connected with the objectives pursued by the Ministry of Education Malaysia (Kementerian
Pengajian Tinggi). Below are the percentages of government expenditure on
education (Table 1).
Number
of Malaysian students in public universities (2011) was 663.597 people, the
number of students enrolled in community colleges 6,394, in private higher
education institutions - 428,973, and the number of teaching staff about
67 136 people for 2010-11 [1].
|
Percentage (%) |
|||
|
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
Educational
Expenditure to Government Expenditure |
15.12 |
15.90 |
16.70 |
16.00 |
Educational
Expenditure to GNP |
4,06 |
4,30 |
4,40 |
4,50 |
Table 1. Percentage of Actual Total Educational
Expenditure Against Total Government Expenditure and Gross National Product
(GNP) in Current Price (2009-2012).
System
of Higher Education of Malaysia is governed by the Education Act 1996. Thus
includes a system of pre-university education in the national education system,
which a pre-school, primary and secondary education, and higher education. The
Malaysian government has developed "Strategic Plan for Higher Education:
Laying the Foundation Beyond 2020", which is designed to improve the
education system.
The plan was formulated to meet the nation's human
resource capital needs and transform higher education in order to make Malaysia
as an international hub of higher educational excellence. The transformation is
divided into four distinct phases:
Phase 1: Laying the Foundation (2007-2010)
Phase 2: Strengthening and Enhancement (2011-2015)
Phase 3: Excellence (2016-2020)
Phase 4: Glory and Sustainability (beyond 2020)
This strategic plan is designed to be broad and
comprehensive and focuses on seven strategic thrusts:
· Widening access and
enhancing equity;
· Improving the
quality of teaching and learning;
·
Enhancing research and
innovation;
· Strengthening
institutions of higher education;
·
Intensifying
internationalisation;
·
Enculturation of
lifelong learning;
· Reinforcing the
Higher Education Ministry's delivery system [2].
Higher education is heavily subsidized by the government.
A necessary condition for admission to the university is through STPM or
matriculation certificate. Students who wish to
obtain a degree from a foreign university have the option of enrolling at a
branch campus of foreign universities in Malaysia. Several foreign
universities have set up campuses in Malaysian
follow:
· Monash University,
Australia;
· The University of
Nottingham, United Kingdom;
· SAE Institute,
Australia;
· Swinburne
University of Technology, Australia;
· Curtin University
of Technology, Australia;
· Raffles Design
Institute, Singapore.
All higher education institutions in
Malaysia can be grouped into two main categories:
· Public higher education institutions (government-funded) (state
universities, polytechnics, colleges)
· Private higher education institutions (universities, colleges, foreign
branches).
Public and private universities of Malaysia
are offer in the following programs:
Foundation (1 year).
Foundation involves the purposeful preparation for the chosen specialty,
provides students with the basic knowledge and information necessary to teach
in universities, improves language skills of students to the level required for
university studies, and develops intellectual abilities and communication
skills.
Diploma.
Secondary special education program with the possibility of learning to Degree
program. Diploma program is a two or three year program. Thus is similar to
Kazakhstan vocational education. Graduates are easily employed. After graduated
with a diploma, a student can continue education in a degree program locally or
overseas (England, USA, Australia).
Twinning program is a fairly common
program in Malaysia. Many Malaysian universities offer their students the
opportunity to study the program in renowned English, Australian or American
universities, without leaving Malaysia.
Masters. Postgraduate education program, allowing
deeper specialization in a specific professional purpose is designed for at
least 1 year.
PhD program involves:
1)
By research which taken 3 year to complete;
2)
By coursework and research which has taken 3 to 4
years to complete.
One of the private
universities of Malaysia is UNITAR International University, leading the
largest university of the country. UNITAR International University was
established in 1997, and represents as one of the first Private Higher
Educational Institutions in the country. University collaborates with numerous
independent regional centers across the country with a population of more than
9,000 students in 60 training programs. UNITAR has 6 faculties such as, the
Faculty of Business and Information Technology (FBIT), Faculty of hospitality
and tourism management, Faculty of early childhood studies, Asia graduate
school of business, School of foundation and general studies, Faculty of
education and social sciences. It also has 9 regional centers in Penang,
Sarawak, Sabah, Malacca, Perak, Johor, Kelantan, Negeri Sembilan, and Selangor.
The academic year consists of 3 semesters, the first semester from 4 February -
17 May (14 weeks) the second semester from 24 June - 18 August (8 weeks) and
third semester 16 September - 29 December (14 weeks).
Every foreign student who wants to
learn in UNITAR is encouraged to apply and register online. Successful
candidates will be notified after all processes have been completed. By
enrolling each student is assigned a unique individual identification code (ID)
which will give access to the UNITAR local network site. This will also give
access to the library’s electronic catalog and enables lecturers to track
his/her academic performance on this code.
Since the beginning of
September 2013 the UNITAR had the opportunity to move into a spacious new
campus, located in Kelana Jaya, Selangor, where the conditions for lecturers
and students have significantly improved. All classrooms are equipped with all
the necessary technical equipment video projectors, personal computers, as well
as the entire campus is covered with Wi-Fi, faculties and other departments of
the university located in fairly comfortable offices with all the necessary
technical equipment and security products.
In his teaching and educational
activity a lecturer of a subject is guided by a UNITAR Private Higher Education
Institute (PHEI) Act and the Malaysian Qualification Agency (MQA) Act and plan,
which consists of the main provisions needed for the study of the students.
Course plans posted on the website of the UNITAR (local network UNIEC Virtual),
which introduces students to the course content, as well as to ask clarifying
questions of the lecturers. Also, students can view their class schedules; exam
grades other personal information [3].
Scientific activity is regulated by the teacher's annual scientific
plan, which shows the areas of research, study, development and testing of
research results, as well as their subsequent publication in scientific
journals. At the end of a program (undergraduate) there is an internship (for
at least 3 month) for students to be placed in schools or in industry, social
organizations.
In UNITAR educational activities are carried out in the
following areas:
1. Sports and recreation
(Taekwondo Club, UNITAR Adventure and Recreational Club (URAC);
2. Religious orientation
(Persatuan Mahasiswa Islam (PERMAI), Persatuan Mahasiswa India (PMI), UNITAR
Chinese Student Association (UCSA);
3. Hobby groups (KARISMA
Club, Borneo Student Society (BSS), Consumer Club, Toastmaster Club, Shutter
Club (Photography Club, International Student Association, KEMSIS (Kelab Media
Siswa) [4].
University
also has Counseling & Assistantship Unit, for Student Affairs Department,
aimed at providing psychological support to students, conducting individual and
group counseling, in order to solve various problems associated with academic
performance, socialization of the students, and their interaction with each
other:
· Conduct individual
counseling & group counseling sessions;
· Organize and give
talks and workshops;
· Organize and manage
orientation programs for new students;
· Administer
scholarship of UNITAR students;
· Conduct
psychological test (i.e. personality test, career test) for students.
UNITAR
operates an extensive library with direct access to all the literature on the
website of the university. Through the online catalog one can find any book on
many areas or fields of study.
UNITAR also creates conclusive
learning conditions for its schedules. Students from near and far are
recommended in good and conducive hostels around the campus building. Students
are transported by buses from hostels to and from campus daily. All foreign students
must be registered in the International Student Association, where they help
students organize educational trips to the beautiful sights of Malaysia, holds
weekly meeting and evening explores foreign cultures and customs.
Based on the above information on the activities of the UNITAR one can
define the main directions for improving Kazakhstan system of higher education
in the follow aspects:
· Document between the departments of the university is carried out by a
local area network;
· The possibility of gaining admission online;
· Direct access to the training materials (syllabus, schedule);
· Direct access to the electronic database of the library;
· Provision of bus students living in remote areas;
· Wi-Fi throughout the university;
· Assigning each student ID that simplifies the job of tracking their
academic progress.
Thus, as we see the system of higher
education in Malaysia is up to date, according to the evolving demands of the
21st century, seeking more and more to improve its system by introducing new
technologies, collaborating with leading foreign universities. Our Kazakhstan
model of higher education by adopting the best Malaysia can compete with other
universities in the world educational space.
References
1.
Malaysia
Educational Statistics, Quick facts 2012.
Educational Planning and Research Division, Ministry of education
Malaysia.2012; http://emisportal.moe.gov.my/
2.
"Strategic Plan for Higher
Education: Laying the Foundation Beyond 2020". http://www.moe.gov.my/
3.
Malaysian
Qualifications Act 2007 (Act 79).
http://www.mqa.gov.my/