PROFILES OF M`SIAN STUDENTS AT UNAND BEING COMPILED FOR NEXT MOVE

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 8 (Bernama) -- The profiles of Malaysian students at
Universitas Andalas (Unand) in Padang will be compiled before transfer of
credits or change of university can be done, following the disruption of their
studies by last Wednesday's earthquake that hit West Sumatra.

Higher Education Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said this decision was
reached at the Cabinet meeting Wednesday and the ministry was asked to handle
the matter immediately.

He said the transfer of credits or change of university for the affected
students would depend on information about their academic performance, including
their grades, level of study and type of course taken which could only be
obtained from Unand.

"The Higher Education Department will need time to compile the information
as the students are from different backgrounds and our team has gone to Padang
to gather the information," he said after chairing the post-Cabinet meeting of
his ministry, here, Wednesday.

Unand has 324 Malaysian students. The devastating earthquake on Sept 30
forced 323 of them to return home while one opted to stay on in Padang.

In announcing the status of the 323 students at the press conference,
Hishammuddin said the department's officers would discuss with Anand's
management whether these students should continue their studies there or move to
another recognised university in Indonesia or to a Malaysian university.

"The ministry has also discussed the matter with private higher learning
institutions in Malaysia, where some are willing to accept these students. But
like the normal entry process, they will be interviewed and will have to meet
certain qualifying conditions.

"The final decision, however, lies with the students, whether they want to
continue at Unand or otherwise.

"As we all know, medical studies at private universities will be more
expensive," he said.
-- BERNAMA