AUCKLAND, July 14 (Bernama) -- 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 Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said 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 reporters after attending an engagement session with the ASEAN-New Zealand Business Council (ANZBC) here today.
According to him, 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.
He said 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 reporters after attending an engagement session with the ASEAN-New Zealand Business Council (ANZBC) here today.
According to him, 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.