22-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Free tertiary education in Sarawak modelled on Nordic, German models
MIRI: Sarawak's free tertiary education (SFTE) initiative is modelled after Nordic countries like Norway and Finland, said Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg.
He said these countres, along with Germany, are known worldwide for their high and robust economic growth.
"That is why we model our free tertiary education initiative on the free education systems of these countries," he said at a townhall during the Sarawak Day celebration here.
"We want our students to have the latest knowledge for the state's future," he said.
He said the goal is to replicate the economic growth seen in those countries.
The SFTE initiative will begin next year at five state-owned institutions: Swinburne University of Technology in Kuching, Curtin University of Technology in Miri, University Technology Sarawak in Sibu, I-Cats College University in Kuching and Centre of Technological Excellence Sarawak in Kuching.
He said the state has no plans to extend SFTE to Sarawakians at federal universities.
The initiative is limited to Sarawakians enrolled at the five state-run universities.
"If we want to expand to other universities, they are financed by the federal government. We don't want to interfere with what the federal government is doing," he said.
Abang Johari said applications to state-owned institutions are not subject to UPU criteria set by the higher education ministry.
He cited many cases where students applying for an engineering course were instead diverted to study an arts subject.
He added that students with the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) from Chinese schools will be accepted if they meet entry requirements, and even those from poor families can pursue higher education in state-run institutions.
