KUALA LUMPUR, July 1 — A total of 326,419 out of 556,556 diploma and first degree students who entered public higher learning institutions (IPTA) from 2023 to March this year pursued studies in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Deputy Higher Education Minister Adam Adli Abd Halim said the finding is based on MyMOHES system data.
“These statistics show that IPTAs continue to strongly emphasise developing STEM talent in line with national priorities and future industry demands, particularly in hi-tech sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, automation, digitalisation and green technology,” he said during Minister’s Question Time.
He was responding to a question from Datuk Ku Abd Rahman Ku Ismail (PN-Kubang Pasu) about how many higher learning institution students pursue STEM and non-STEM fields, as well as the projected number of engineers required under the National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy 2021-2030 (DSTIN) to meet industry demand.
Adam Adli explained that DSTIN, under the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (MOSTI), doesn’t set human capital targets based on the absolute number of engineers by discipline, but adopts a broader approach under the comprehensive Researchers, Scientists, Engineers and Technologists (RSET) ecosystem.
“To support the growth of hi-tech industries, the policy targets a ratio of 200 RSET personnel for every 10,000 workers by 2030.
“Based on this target and the projected national workforce of about 17.06 million people, Malaysia will require about 341,200 RSET professionals by 2030,” Adam Adli said.
He added that the Higher Education Ministry (MOHE) will keep strengthening the higher education ecosystem to ensure programme offerings, institutional capacities, and talent development are aligned with industry needs and the country’s development aspirations.
Responding to a supplementary question from Onn Abu Bakar (Harapan-Batu Pahat) on efforts to increase the number of expert lecturers, research laboratories and hi-tech facilities to support growing demand in AI, semiconductor and digital engineering programmes, Adam Adli said the ministry’s focus is on four universities under the Malaysian Technical University Network (MTUN) — Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), Universiti Malaysia Pahang al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA), dan Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UNIMAP).
