Mara plans to send 100 sponsored students to NZ, says Zahid
The Deputy Prime Minister said the move comes in light of uncertainties in current United States (US) policies with regard to foreign students.
"Malaysian students sponsored by Mara that were bound for the United States faced some restrictions.
"We have received offers from universities in New Zealand who are willing to accept our Malaysian students.
"The offer does not only apply to Mara sponsored students but may also include those sponsored under the Public Service Department, PETRONAS and other agencies," he told reporters when met at the Asean–New Zealand Business Council Engagement session here on Monday (July 14).
He added that the High Commissioner of Malaysia to New Zealand, Her Excellency Mazita Marzuki, has been tasked with seeking reasonable discounts from the universities for students who will be sponsored by Mara and the other agencies.
He said that the sponsored students would likely be from fields related to green technology and renewable energy.
"New Zealand is highly advanced in green technology where 87% of its energy needs come from renewable energy.
"We need to expose our engineering students to learn new aspects of these technologies from New Zealand," he added.
In June, Ahmad Zahid announced that Mara sponsored students, who were initially bound for further studies in universities in the US this year, will most likely be sent to the United Kingdom (UK) instead.
The announcement was made during his working visit to London where three universities had agreed to give discounts of up to 20% in tuition fees for Mara-sponsored students.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid, who is also the chairman of the National TVET Committee, said the government is looking at reviving the student exchange programme between Malaysia and New Zealand.
"At present, there are 690 Malaysian students studying in New Zealand and only 20 students from New Zealand studying in Malaysia.
"We are looking at reviving the student exchange programme which once existed between our countries," he added.
He said that students from New Zealand could be offered three to six months courses under TVET skills training programmes.
He said that there are currently 1,398 TVET institutions nationwide offering various technical and skills training courses.
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