The post-high school conundrum is not unfamiliar to Malaysian students: where should they go for a tertiary education? Should they stay in the country or leave?
While Malaysia is home to many overseas and local reputable educational institutions – institutions such as Monash University, Curtin University of Technology, and the University of Nottingham in Malaysia have set up local campuses; competitive local universities such as the University of Malaya have also attracted a fair number of students – many still opt to leave the country for a tertiary education overseas. The demand for an overseas education is growing, largely due to the exposure and experience that being educated in a foreign place can provide.
Although universities in Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada have traditionally been popular choices of Malaysian students, Asian universities are now highly sought after. Among these Asian universities, Hong Kong universities have increasingly become the preferred choice of Malaysian students who choose to stay close to home, in the Asian region.
Pic: Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
The demand for Hong Kong universities might appear puzzling, or even surprising, but the unique education that some of these institutions offer is one that is competitive, broadens perspectives, and is geared toward expanding employment opportunities for students. A number of these institutions – University of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and Hong Kong Baptist University – are also ranked in the top 200 in The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2010-2011.
Perhaps a potential worry of non-Mandarin or Cantonese speaking students would be the language factor, but classes in Hong Kong universities are conducted in English by experienced professors. Malaysian students of other ethnicities should not fear a culture shock either, because the city is largely cosmopolitan, and certain institutions, such as The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, have mentorship programs and host family schemes to help students settle into life in Hong Kong.
Pic; AP.
In this increasingly globalized world, adopting a global perspective on issues has become imperative. Hong Kong universities place an emphasis on broadening students’ perspectives and to strive to develop students into global citizens through its student exchange programs with a list of partner universities. More importantly, placement or internship programs as part of some institutions’ “Work-Integrated Education” is a top priority. Being close to Mainland China also expands business opportunities for those students who intend to network with both Chinese professionals and foreign expatriates. The cost of an education in Hong Kong is relatively cheap as compared to an education in the West. Furthermore, international students are eligible for post-entry scholarships or prizes that can help to offset some of the tuition fees.
Asia is quickly gaining popularity as a study destination, where it is recognized that the quality of education is not solely dependent on the type of certificate offered, but the exposure and experience that the education offers matter greatly as well. Hong Kong universities provide this sort of unique quality education for Malaysian students, one that is global, and centered in Asia.