KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia aims to attract about 250,000 international students by 2030, focusing on a diversity of source countries to strengthen its position as a preferred higher education destination.
Higher education minister Zambry Abdul Kadir said about 170,000 international students from 180 countries are currently pursuing their studies in Malaysia.
"When there are many students from various countries, Malaysia becomes a good destination for them to study," he told reporters after closing the 2026 International Young Future Leaders (iFUTURE) Summit at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur here.
Zambry said the presence of international students is projected to contribute at least RM16 billion a year to the national economy.
He added that the projection does not account for the spillover effects of other economic activities that also generate income for local businesses.
When asked about monitoring graduates, Zambry said the higher education ministry uses the MyMOHES system to track their employment progress over a three-year period.
He said the system enables the ministry to regularly review the status and progress of graduates.