MINISTRY TO ATTRACT 80,000 FOREIGN STUDENTS

MIRI (Malaysia), May 26 (Bernama) -- The Higher Education Ministry is
confident ofmeeting the target of enrolling 80,000 foreign students next year,
said its deputy minister, Dr Hou Kok Chung.

He said at present, about 70,000 foreign students were pursuing higher
education in the country.

The target can be met as Malaysia offers a more affordable and quality
education for students from China, Taiwan, Thailand and Singapore in the current
economic scenario, he told reporters after holding a dialogue with local private
institutions of higher learning here Tuesday.

Hou said in the 2008 Times Higher Education-QS World University Rankings,
five universities appeared in the top 400.

He said besides 20 public universities, foreign students were also assured
of quality education offered by 24 private institutions of higher learning.
-- BERNAMA