Experts call for relook on local STEM education as US tightens foreign student policies
KUALA LUMPUR: The tightening of foreign student policies in the United States may have disrupted the study plans of many worldwide, but Malaysian experts say this is an opportunity to relook at support and funding for local institutions.
Former deputy higher education director-general Professor Datuk Dr Noor Azizi Ismail said with the right ecosystem, greater autonomy and stronger funding, local universities could offer high-quality education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects.
"We have the talent. Many of our academics are graduates of world-class universities, but they also possess a better understanding of our local context," he said to the New Straits Times.
Noor Azizi, who is also former UMK vice-chancellor and Malaysian Graduate School Entrepreneurship and Business lecturer, acknowledged that the US remained home to top STEM institutions like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Harvard and Stanford.
But he said the current restrictions could steer students toward equally strong alternatives.
"In fact, our local universities may even be more relevant in addressing regional challenges and industry needs," Noor Azizi added.
International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) principal director (Academic and Internationalisation) Professor Dr Amir Akramin Shafie echoed the view, saying that "brain stay" could strengthen domestic institutions and fill talent gaps, particularly in Malaysia's key sectors, like semiconductors and advanced manufacturing.
Amir Akramin, who is also a lecturer at IIUM's Mechatronics Engineering Department, highlighted the strengths of British and Australian universities, with the former known for its excellence in fundamental sciences and engineering, while the latter led in environmental science, mining and biotechnology.
"The perception that the US is the sole leader in STEM might be partially outdated," he said.
Amir added that Germany, Japan and South Korea had also invested heavily in STEM education and could now offer globally respected programmes.
While some students might initially struggle to shift away from the "US dream", Amir Akramin believed many would adapt and develop new preferences.
"This will enhance our diversity and increase the overall international experience of our STEM workforce," he said.
Both academics also said with the current US policy, the country might experience reduced exchange of ideas and fewer international collaborations, which would eventually shift the global innovation landscape away from American institutions.
"On the upside, a shift from "brain drain" to "brain stay" could help Malaysia strengthen local innovation, build institutional capacity and establish itself as a regional hub for STEM education," said Noor Azizi.
On May 27, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered a suspension of student visa processing as President Donald Trump's administration ramped up vetting of their social media.
It was the latest move after Rubio rescinded hundreds of visas and the Trump administration moved to bar Harvard from admitting non-Americans.
Rubio had used an obscure law that allowed the removal of foreigners for activities deemed counter to US foreign policy interests.
The most visible targets had been students involved in activism over Gaza. Trump administration officials accused the students of anti-Semitism, charges strenuously denied by a number of those targeted.
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