Education
Services
The education sector in Malaysia covers early childcare to tertiary levels and professional training. The Malaysia Education Blueprint (2015-2025) aims to create future-ready graduates and industry-relevant talents for the era of IR4.0 technologies, aligning with aspirations to be a regional education hub.
Malaysia’s Private Higher Education Institutions (PHEIs) have surged, nurturing human capital for the nation and ASEAN. Over 300 colleges provide Diplomas and Bachelor’s, while universities offer Master’s and PhDs.
The number of university graduates in Malaysia increased by 4.7% in 2021 from 5.36 million graduates in 2020. The PHEI industry which is worth RM31.5 billion in 2018 has the potential to grow to RM65 billion by 2026. The government foresees the education sector propelling the services sector to comprise 70% of GDP. With a contribution of RM31.5 billion in 2018, it’s projected to reach RM84 billion by 2030, growing at 5% to 6% annually.
Malaysia’s PHEI scene features notable international campuses: Swinburne University, Curtin University, Monash University, University of Nottingham, Heriot-Watt University, Newcastle University Medicine, University of Southampton, University of Reading, and Xiamen University Malaysia.
The role of education in Malaysia’s socio-economic growth is significant, impacting both direct and indirect pathways, with the nation’s economy propelled by its human capital. According to the ‘Graduate Statistics 2021’ press release by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), the number of university graduates increased by 4.7% in 2021 to reach 5.61 million, up from 5.36 million in 2020. Guided by the strategic plan ‘Way Forward for Private Higher Education Institutions (2020-2025)’, Malaysia aims to establish itself as a premier international higher education hub, with a goal of hosting 250,000 foreign students by 2025.
Public Institution | 18,689 |
Private Higher Institution | 30,862 |
Language Centre | 2,057 |
Skill Centre | 69 |
Grand Total | 51,677 |
Source: Education Malaysia Global Services
236
Approved Projects
RM618 mil
Total Approved Investment in 2022
1,246
Job Opportunities
Private Universities/Colleges: 20
International Schools/Pre-School/Tuition Centres/Language Centres: 184
TVET Institutions: 32
For more statistics, please click here.
Beyond higher education, the Government values TVET as mainstream education, essential for Malaysia’s industrial progress. The Government-Industry TVET Coordination Body (GITC) facilitates collaboration between sectors, aligning TVET with industry demands in areas like automotive, semiconductor, aerospace, and more.
Ensuring equitable education access is vital to address social disparities. Private Higher Education Institutions (PHEIs) provide avenues for high school graduates to pursue studies when public options are limited. Private TVETs, like Penang Skills Development Centre (PSDC), offer industry-oriented courses with strong job prospects. The National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) currently provides loan options for students in both public and private institutions.
MIDA offers incentives under the Promotion of Investments Act (PIA), 1986, and Income Tax Act, 1967. New or expansion projects of TVET institutions and PHEIs are eligible for the following incentive:
Investment Tax Allowance (ITA) of 100% of the qualifying capital expenditure incurred within a period of 10 years. The allowance can be offset against 70% of statutory income for each year of assessment.
Equity Ownership