HIGHER EDUCATION MINISTRY KEEN TO MAKE MALAYSIA AN INNOVATION HUB

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 30 (Bernama) -- The Higher Education Ministry is now taking a
further step to make the country a regional hub, not only for education, but
also for innovation, Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said.

As such, he said efforts to increase the number of post-graduate students,
attract more participations from research institutions and enhance the research
and development (R&D) collaboration with foreign universities were being
implemented.

"We are in the midst of planning cluster R&D activities apart from opening bid
for a bigger R&D allocation for private universities," he told reporters after
launching the ministry’s National Day programme here Monday.

Mohamed Khaled said institutions of higher learning had a vital role to play in
innovation development, which he said, would help the government achieve its
objective of making Malaysia a high-income nation.

"A big allocation for innovation has been given to five research
universities in addition to the allocation given under the 10th Malaysia Plan.

"So, even though no new university was being build, the quality of education
remains a top priority," he added.
-- BERNAMA