Blueprint for higher education

KUALA LUMPUR: The Education Ministry is coming up with the Malaysian Higher Education Sector Blueprint (PPPM-PT) 2015-2025 to give the national higher education system a quantum leap.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the blueprint will have 10 core thrusts to produce graduates who are all-rounders, holistic and have the mind of an entrepreneur.
"It includes the provision of a robust action plan to address the challenges of the higher education sector to make Malaysia a leading education hub at the international level.
"As with the national dialogue on the Malaysian Education Blueprint 2013-2025, which we held in the past, the process of preparing the plan will take into account feedback, new ideas as well as the views of the public and stakeholders," Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, said when launching the PPPM-PT Dialogue 2015-2025 here today.
Muhyiddin said the thrusts proposed are emphasising career excellence, nurturing higher education talent, (promoting) lifelong learning and (producing) graduates of high quality.
"The rest are financial sustainability, strengthening governance, strengthening the ecosystem, producing a renowned (higher education) system globally and online learning globally, and transforming the higher education system."
"I am confident that the documents that will be produced (via dialogues) will be inclusive, up-to-date in terms of current developments, realistic, and most importantly, can be implemented effectively," he said.
He said the objectives can be realised through the concerted efforts of the ministry and with the support of all strata of society.
In another event, Muhyiddin said the peace and harmony in the country can be preserved if Muslims shun extremism and observe decorum when discussing different views.
He said Muslims must make the ulama (scholars), academicians and intellectuals as models in the quest to achieve their goals.
"These groups must be used as models in seeking consensus, and exchanging ideas and dialogue in resolving issues related to Muslims. Disputes among Muslims arising from different views have evolved into conflicts," he said when opening the Islamic Thought IV seminar at Universiti Malaya today.
"Extreme thinking only leads to extremism, hostility, violence in the name of Islam, a culture of unlimited freedom, liberalism and religious pluralism.
"I believe that the principle of wasatiyyah (moderation) is the axis of unity and strength of Muslims in Malaysia and worldwide."
Today, Muhyiddin, who was accompanied by Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, also met a delegation of youths from China at a hotel here.
The delegation, which arrived here four days ago, is on a Malaysia-China Youth Exchange Programme 2014 organised by the Youth and Sports Ministry. – Bernama