Zambry urges scholarship providers to diversify student placements beyond US
PUTRAJAYA: Local scholarship providers have been urged to make immediate decisions regarding placing their sponsored students in countries other than the United States (US), following the impact of new tariff policies introduced by the country.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said Malaysia had many high-achieving students qualified to pursue studies in the world's best universities, not exclusively in the US.
"We can no longer be trapped by policies that are too regressive in nature, to the extent of jeopardising opportunities for students from all over the world, including Malaysia, to study.
"For me, the best universities are also available in other countries," he said when met at the 'Luncheon Talk With Editors' session in conjunction with the Asean-Malaysia Chairmanship 2025 Programme, organised by the Higher Education Ministry, here today.
He was commenting on the impact of new US tariff policies on Malaysian students pursuing studies there.
Previously, the Trump administration issued directives to halt the processing of visas for all foreign students and considered measures to screen new applicants based on their social media posts.
Mara chairman Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki was reportedly quoted as saying that Mara would stop sending its sponsored students to the US starting this year, following the introduction of President Donald Trump's new policies. – BERNAMA
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