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.
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.”