Deputy higher education minister, Datuk Dr Hou Kok Chung, says the Malaysia-China Mutual Recognition Agreement has led to China recognising 71 local tertiary institutions, up from “five or six” before the deal.

Chung is optimistic it will continue to be effective in bringing Chinese students to Malaysia. “There are now about 10,000 Chinese students here. Hopefully, this number will grow by at least 50%, if not 100%, in the future,” he said.

“There are now about 10,000 Chinese students here. Hopefully, this number will grow by at least 50%, if not 100%”

The 71 listed institutions include 20 public universities, 26 private universities, 23 college universities, one teacher-training institute and the National Academy of Arts Culture and Heritage.

The well known Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, Taylor’s College and the University of Nottingham in Malaysia, a British branch campus, are all on the list.

So far, Malaysia has recognised 820 Chinese institutions under the agreement, increasing the number of Malaysian students studying in China from 2,252 at the time it was signed to about 4,000.

Educational ties between the two countries were furthered today with the announcement that Xiamen University will open China’s first overseas campus in Malaysia in 2015. All courses will be taught in English at the university which aims to open with 10,000 students, the majority Chinese and Malaysian.

“The establishment of the branch campus would turn Malaysia into an educational hub in this region,” said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.