A new company backed by the Malaysian government has been set up to act as a “gateway to studying in Malaysia” by processing all student visa applications, ensuring insurance coverage is purchased and providing information on government approved courses.
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Study in Malaysia “gateway” launched
Under the mandate of the Ministry of Higher Education, Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) has been charged with the mission to step up the country’s efforts to have 200,000 international students by 2020.
“We are positioning EMGS to be an industry promotion agency, much like the Multimedia Development Corporation and Tourism Malaysia are for their respective industries,” aid CEO Mohd Yazid Abd Hamid.
Last August, the government announced the establishment of EMGS to handle all matters pertaining to foreign students. Since launching February 1, its main aim is to increase the efficiency of the student visa application process now that all applications must be filed through the agency once a student is accepted by an accredited and licenced private higher education institution.
“Our system will allow us to track each foreign student who comes through EMGS. This will help curtail the abuse of foreign student visas”
In its charter, it claims to process all completed applications within 14 working days from the date they are received.
“Aside from making it more convenient for international students, the major shift in the speed of delivery of student visas will help Malaysian IHEs to plan better and increase their student intake,” said Mohd Yazid.
“Our system will allow us to track each foreign student who comes through EMGS. This will help curtail the abuse of foreign student visas and curb fraudulent activities committed by foreign students coming in under false pretences.”
EMGS will also enforce new compulsory insurance coverage in order to reduce the strain on the public healthcare system. Comprehensive coverage will be provided exclusively by AXA Affin General Insurance Bhd in a deal that could be worth RM42 million (US$13.8 million) in annual premiums.
On the agency’s website, potential students can search for courses, find out about the cost of living and compare institutions which are listed with their score from the government’s institutional rating system, SETARA.
After receiving initial start up funding from the Ministry of Higher Education, Yazid says the agency aims to be a self-sufficient company.
“So far, the cost of marketing Malaysia as an education destination and processing international visas has been borne by the government and indirectly, by the taxpayer,” he commented.
“The fees collected by the agency will not only be deployed to sustain operations at its one-stop centre, but also for marketing Malaysian education and training products overseas.”
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7 Responses to Study in Malaysia “gateway” launched
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EMGS was too ambitious thus has affected student arrival since February. Too rigid and the officers in charge take the easy way out to reject visa documents rather than checking with the institution for clarity. Documents are accepted in the counter and rejected after 2 weeks for various reasons, 14 days wasted on waiting time. Parents and students has resorted to look alternative country and school due to this mess.
It appears the private schools in Malaysia are afraid the types of problems being encountered in the US regarding agent relations might affect them as well. It is rumoured the full operations of the EMGS will not begin until July or August 2013.
ESMG has discounted the fact that many foreign students stayed in Malaysia since birth or since child. And many do not have a home in their own country. ESMG can only process student visa if the student apply the visa from home country, therefore it creates problem to these students. The system was introduced without much checking the need of foreign students. Medical check-up centre was not set up in Borneo, therefore student has no choice but to fly in to KL to do a simple medical check-up. I think this system was implemented without any thoughts and create problem for both parents and students.