Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara), the federal government company funding the scholars, stated that 131 Malaysian college students have been redirected to much less unstable locations, specifically the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
“With the latest coverage adjustments launched by President Trump, we’re taking a critical have a look at the potential impression on our college students there, together with rising dwelling prices and tutorial disruptions,” stated Mara Chairman, Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, throughout a go to to the UK on June 1.
His assertion got here simply days after US secretary of state Marco Rubio halted the scheduling of pupil visa interviews on the nation’s embassies and consulates worldwide, setting in movement a close to month-long freeze inflicting visa delays and cancellations to at the present time.
Asyraf confirmed the redirection plan to Malaysian media earlier this month, with extra particulars anticipated in an upcoming parliamentary session subsequent week.
It’s understood that 78 college students are rerouting to the UK, adopted by 28 to Canada, 22 to Australia and three selecting New Zealand.
In response to Asyraf, all the scholars maintain conditional gives from QS prime 100 international universities, together with Imperial Faculty London, College of Toronto, and the College of Melbourne, as reported by Malaysian information shops.
In Could 2025 – earlier than the total impression of the visa freeze had taken impact – the US state division issued 95 F1 visas to Malaysian college students, a 40% drop in comparison with the identical interval in 2024. Stakeholders anticipate additional declines throughout the board in June.
In response to the newest IIE Open Doorways information, 4,816 Malaysian college students studied within the US in 2023/24, although curiosity within the vacation spot has waned as a consequence of affordability limitations and coverage uncertainty beneath the Trump administration.
With the latest coverage adjustments launched by President Trump, we’re taking a critical have a look at the potential impression on our college students there
Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, MARA
After lifting the visa interview freeze on June 26, the state division imposed new guidelines round social media vetting that are additional compounding delays and inflicting widespread uncertainty amongst potential college students.
Reporting on Asyraf’s go to to the UK, the British Council highlighted the chance for UK establishments to draw extra Malaysian college students.
“With Mara redirecting college students from the US, UK universities stand to profit from an inflow of high-achieving, government-sponsored college students, significantly establishments with experience in STEM fields like pc science, engineering, AI, and robotics,” it stated.
In response to the report, Malaysian deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi introduced plans to ship extra college students to the UK, citing decrease dwelling prices and tuition charges as contributing components.
As beforehand reported in The PIE Informationthe enchantment of the UK has been gaining momentum amongst worldwide college students, initially planning to review within the US.
In the meantime, New Zealand not too long ago introduced an formidable new internationalisation technique, aiming to draw 35,000 extra worldwide college students by 2034.
