Showing posts with label Education. Show all posts

Wednesday 10 April 2024

Malaysia, a magnet for international students

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia has the potential to attract more international students due to its quality education and affordable cost of living.

Malaysian Association of Private Colleges and Universities (Mapcu) president Datuk Parmjit Singh said factors that encourage students to study in Malaysia include the availability of high quality education programmes system delivered by universities with a strong international outlook and well-developed campuses and facilities.

“Tuition fees are relatively lower... (The same goes for the) living cost in Malaysia,” he said, adding that Malaysia also offers a student-friendly social ecosystem to provide the sort of lifestyle sought by international students.

“The tightening of regulations for international students is happening in a few countries, with some mainly due to shortages of accommodation in these countries.

ALSO READ: Growing worry over rising cost of studying overseas

“This does present opportunities for Malaysia to attract those students who are now unable to study in countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada.

“However, factors such as opportunities to work while studying and more inclusive post-study work opportunities – all of which are available to international students in those countries – may need to be enhanced in order to encourage these students to select Malaysia as a preferred alternative destination,” said Parmjit, who is also Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU)chief executive officer (CEO).

Vice-Chancellors’ Council for Private Universities chairman Prof Mushtak Al-Atabi said in order to attract international students to our shores, Malaysia should make itself a more accessible destination.

“There are multiple countries in the region that are competing with Malaysia to be the regional education hub,” said Prof Mushtak, who is also Heriot-Watt University Malaysia provost and CEO.

National Association of Private Educational Institutions secretary-general Dr Teh Choon Jin said it is important for Malaysia to maintain a good reputation in terms of treatment of international students or foreigners in order to entice students to come here.

ALSO READ: INTERACTIVE: How the jobs mismatch may derail Malaysia’s drive to become a high-income nation

“If there is any negative report of ill treatment of foreigners, it may discourage potential international students from pursuing their studies in Malaysia,” he said.

Dr Teh also said these students may face challenges in finding employment opportunities in Malaysia after graduation as there are limited numbers for international graduates, compared to those in countries with more robust job markets.

On the plus side, Malaysia offers great cost savings due to the ringgit’s exchange rate being low compared with countries such as the UK, Australia, Canada and the United States, he added.

Malaysia’s location in South-East Asia with good connectivity to other countries within the region and those beyond the region also makes it an attractive destination to experience Asia, Dr Teh said.

He added that the nation is perceived as a safe country, Muslim-friendly and has a wide variety of food catering to different needs.

“Malaysia has relatively straightforward visa regulations compared to some other countries, making it easier for students to obtain study visas,” said Teh, who is also APU registrar.

Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) CEO Novie Tajuddin said the number of international students coming to Malaysia has been increasing over the years.

He said the principal body that manages the movement of international students in Malaysia, including facilitating visa processing, had received 65,207 applications by the end of 2023.

This is a huge increase compared with 10,453 applications in 2020.

“Malaysia is attractive to international students as (the living cost in the country) is affordable... The people are (also) friendly, and we are advanced in terms of transnational education,” he said when contacted.

“EMGS continues to promote our education, opening the door for new areas, looking into existing policy and working closely with the Higher Education Ministry and to work with other relevant ministries,”

Novie stressed.He also posited that the country could benefit from the tightening of regulations governing international students in other countries such as Canada, Australia and the UK.

Novie highlighted that Malaysia offers a graduate pass for students from 25 countries, including Brunei, Singapore, South Korea, Japan and Australia.

This year, he said, China and India were added to the list of countries that offer the pass.

“The graduate pass allows international students to stay for a year after completing their study.

“In this time, they can go on vacation, progress to the next study level or work in Malaysia,” he added.

The graduate pass is a long-term social visit pass that allows holders to gain multiple entries into the country.

The said pass is offered to international graduates who have completed their degree programmes at local universities and other higher education institutes

Source link:.https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/04/10/a-magnet-for-international-students

Malaysia, China aim to enhance Research and Education; Malaysian hospitality a win for varsities

Wednesday 14 February 2024

Rising number of informal workers

Maybank IB Research said the growth in informal jobs for 2023 was 6.5% compared to 9.7% in 2022.

“The challenges are really to do with a dysfunctional labour market, but fortunately, the rise of gig-economy work provides a market solution and a good option for many young people,” - Geoffrey Williams

PETALING JAYA: Despite witnessing stability in the unemployment rate within the local labour market, a growing number of informal workers are causing economist to worry about the cost of living crisis.

Maybank Investment Bank (Maybank IB) Research reported that the jobless rate within the Malaysian job market is showing signs of stability, holding at 3.3% in December 2023 for the second consecutive month, bringing the average unemployment for the year to 3.4%, down from 3.8% in 2022.

However, the research outfit expressed concerns about the rise of informal jobs and workers, specifically own account workers (OWA), as the number of such workers has been increasing since January 2021 from 2.39 million, reaching a new high of three million in December 2023.

Maybank IB Research said the growth in informal jobs for 2023 was 6.5% compared to 9.7% in 2022, surpassing total employment growth which stood at 2.4% in 2023 and 3.5% in 2022.

Malaysia University of Science and Technology economics professor Geoffrey Williams said there is no mystery about the increase in OAW, attributing it to being part of a long-term trend towards side hustles, micro-enterprises and gig-economy work.

“The number of people in this category has gone up because of the cost of living crisis.

“Household incomes are under pressure. So, women and youths are taking on casual, informal, gig-economy jobs to help their household out,” he noted in a reply to StarBiz.

ALSO READ: Gig economy popularity rising

He believes there has been a rise in female labour force participation and a decline in youth enrollment in college for the same reason.

Williams said most of the people in the OAW category are youths and many of them are women.

According to him, under normal circumstances, they wouldn’t pursue such jobs.

However, he said, due to the pressure of high prices and persistently low incomes for male household members, women and young adults find themselves compelled to take on these jobs.

“Many of these jobs are also taken by graduates who cannot find graduate level work.

“They are underemployed, contributing to an overall structural problem of underemployment covering approximately two million people,” he added.

William said these jobs are predominantly low-paid and short-term, making them easily accessible.

“Although male and female average wages are similar in formal work, there is a gender income gap in informal work because women tend to take on low-paid, short-term informal work more often,” he said.

With regard to formal work, William said finding such employment is challenging as firms are still recovering from the Covid-19 crisis or transitioning to technology that reduces the need for human workers.

Additionally, William believes formal salaries are low, prompting people to opt for gig-economy and OAW jobs for better flexibility, even if the salary is not as lucrative.

Meanwhile, Maybank IB Research also pointed out the persistently stagnant youth unemployment rate, holding steady at 10.6% in December 2023.

“Youth unemployment has been ‘stuck’ between the 10.6% and 10.8% range since August 2023, thus still above the pre-pandemic low of 9.9% in December 2019,” it noted

Commenting in regards to this, William said youth unemployment is high worldwide due to a demand and supply issue within the younger labour market.

ALSO READ: DPM: We’ll look after gig workers

“Companies do not have jobs to offer new recruits, graduates and school-leavers so demand for young people is low,” he said.

If companies do have job openings, Williams said the salaries are often below the poverty line, and the terms and conditions are generally unfavourable.

“The challenges are really to do with a dysfunctional labour market, but fortunately, the rise of gig-economy work provides a market solution and a good option for many young people,” he noted.

Williams said conventional economists will advise government interference and training, but he stressed that this will not work.

“Training does not create jobs, it just creates underemployment. The market creates jobs and it should be freed-up to create more jobs especially in gig-economy and freelance work,” he noted.

Research houses expect the local labour market to be resilient and stable, with some expecting improvement within the labour market.

While Maybank IB Research expects the unemployment rate to be stable at 3.4% in 2024, after moderating to 3.4% last year from 3.8% in 2022, both Kenanga Research and TA Research expect a further downtrend.

Kenanga Research, having adjusted its 2024 average unemployment rate estimate from 3.3% to 3.2%, anticipates that the labour market will maintain its robust performance in the near term and throughout 2024.

This expectation is based on the stability in job creation observed in recent months, coupled with the anticipation that the economy will receive additional support from the technology upcycle and China’s gradual economic recovery, particularly in the second half of 2024.

“Alongside continued tourist arrivals and spending, the ongoing progress of multi-year infrastructure projects by the federal government are expected to provide job opportunities,” it explained.

Nevertheless, Kenanga Research said structural issues in the labour market remain a key challenge.

This includes a significant number of youth unemployment, between 15 and 24 years old, standing at 307,200 or 10.6%.

Additionally, it said skill-related underemployment, defined as those with tertiary education and working in the semi-skilled and low-skilled categories, currently stands at 37.4%, reaching a record high of 1.94 million in the final quarter of 2023 (4Q23).

TA Research, meanwhile, believes jobless rate to average at 3.2% this year, with fluctuations between 3.3% and 3.1%.

It said the government is proactively addressing issues such as low pay through the wage progressive model, to enhance the overall well-being of workers.

“Furthermore, as we anticipate a resurgence in the Chinese market and a continuous uptick in domestic demand in Malaysia, the unemployment rate is expected to benefit positively,” it said.

TA Research added that the sustaining economic growth is likely to attract increased foreign direct investment (FDI) into the country.

It anticipates FDI inflow to stimulate business expansion, leading to additional job opportunities.

“The combined effects of government initiatives and the influx of FDI are poised to contribute to a more robust job market, creating favourable conditions for lower unemployment rates and improved overall labour market conditions,” it added.

Similarly, Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB) Research said Malaysia’s positive economic momentum that persisted throughout 2023 had increased the need for labour.

As a consequence, it said the number of employed persons steadily improved to keep up with industry demands, and the unemployment rate returned to pre-pandemic levels in November 2023.

“Going forward, we expect the labour market to remain supported by a further increase in tourism activities, the realisation of FDI projects as well as the government’s other job creation initiatives,” HLIB Research noted.

In absolute terms, the number of unemployed persons decreased to 567,800 in December 2023, marking the lowest figure since February 2020 when it was 525,200.

In December 2023, the labour force expanded 0.1% month-on-month albeit at a slower pace compared to the 0.2% in November 2023, with the total labour force reaching a record high of 17.03 million persons.

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‘Focus on long-term gains’: benefits of pursuing tertiary studies far outweigh upsides of being a gig worker

Friday 9 February 2024

In the Year of the Dragon, worldwide Chinese and China prospers via hard work

Illustration: Chen Xia/GT

CMG's New Year Gala Opens with Drum Performance to Welcome 2024

Artists Worldwide Extend Chinese New Year Greetings via Musical Feast

Xi Extends Spring Festival Greetings to All Chinese

The Chinese Lunar New Year is coming. Recently, there has been heavy snowfall in the south, but the bad weather won't stop people from rushing home. According to estimates from the Ministry of Transport, the number of cross-regional trips around the country during this year's Spring Festival will reach a record high of about 9 billion. The desire for reunion and the nostalgia for the hometown are concepts engraved in the bones of the Chinese people. Reunion with relatives and the steaming New Year's Eve dinner are rewards and comforts for a year of hard work and hardship. New hope is born on the New Year's Eve.

This year's Spring Festival has two special features compared to the past, which add more joy to the festival. First, the UN recognized the Lunar New Year as one of its optional holidays. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently thanked China and the Chinese people on behalf of the UN for their unwavering support to the UN, multilateralism and global progress. Second, this year will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. This is dual happiness. The Chinese people's expectations for family happiness and their confidence in the country's prosperity are deeply integrated.

From a global perspective, the Spring Festival's influence is growing. Nearly 20 countries have designated the Spring Festival as a legal holiday. About one-fifth of the world's population celebrate the Spring Festival in different forms. The "Chinese New Year" has truly transformed into the "Global New Year." This is not only driven by the increasing global influence of Chinese culture, but also the result of the charm of the Spring Festival itself being recognized and shared by more and more people. The meaning of the Spring Festival is very good. "The new year begins again and everything is renewed." The expectation for the warmth of spring and the recovery of all things is shared by all mankind. The forms of celebrating the Spring Festival - writing Spring Festival couplets, decorating windows with paper cuts, lion and dragon dances - have a vitality that invigorates people. The connotation of the Spring Festival - joy, harmony and reunion - contains profound humanistic care. The Spring Festival is closely connected with Chinese culture, and it is the most condensed expression of Chinese culture. The charm and spirit of the Spring Festival are the charm and spirit of Chinese culture.

2024 is the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese lunar calendar. The dragon embodies the aspiration for soaring ambition, strength without dominance, and benevolence toward all beings. It serves as the totem and distinctive cultural symbol of the Chinese nation. UN Secretary-General Guterres remarked that "we need these qualities [of the dragon] to rise to today's global challenges." This is a statement of truth. As the world once again stands at the crossroads of history, enlightened individuals consciously seek courage, wisdom, and strength from the Chinese nation, an ancient nation that has gone through many storms and tribulations.

Over the past year, facing various risks and challenges at home and abroad, China has endured significant pressure and experienced numerous trials. However, amid the storms, we have strengthened our physique and fortified our resilience. It is undeniable that present-day China plays a pivotal role globally. Yet, with the Chinese people's vision of a world where self-improvement benefits all, they consistently contribute certainty and positive energy to the complex and changing world.

Just as General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Xi Jinping pointed out in his Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese, looking back at all the hard work over the past year, we have more deeply realized that building a strong country and realizing national rejuvenation on all fronts through the Chinese path to modernization is not only a bright road for the Chinese people to pursue a better and happy life, but also a just way to promote world peace and development. Chinese people do not expect free lunch; they believe that happiness is achieved through hard work. Whether weak or strong, poor or prosperous, the Chinese adhere to benevolence, mutual prosperity, and view plunder and aggression as great evils. The Spring Festival, the oldest, grandest, and most significant traditional festival in China, embodies the most authentic spiritual and cultural essence of the Chinese nation. It represents a spirit that is peaceful, harmonious, positive, and resilient.

A dragon soars in the sky, but China's development must remain grounded, a truth deeply understood by all Chinese people. 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and is a crucial year for achieving the goals and tasks of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25). The challenges and difficulties facing China in the Year of the Dragon may not be fewer than in previous years, but we also believe in the auspiciousness of the "Dragon Year." The Chinese economy has stabilized and rebounded, with signs of a rising trend in the new qualitative productive forces during the Year of the Dragon. Our confidence is not mere rhetoric but stems from the fundamental lessons learned over the 75-year development journey of the People's Republic of China. It also draws from the immense strength embodied in the Chinese nation during the Spring Festival and the spirit of continuous self-improvement.

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