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Education in Malaysia pp 53–66Cite as

Development of Higher Education in Malaysia: Issues and Challenges

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Part of the book series: Education in the Asia-Pacific Region: Issues, Concerns and Prospects ((EDAP,volume 39))

Abstract

This chapter explores six decades of development of the higher education sector in Malaysia. The exploration begins by describing the context of higher education through a historical lens from the early establishments of universities in the First Malaysia Plan to the present. Furthermore, the changing roles and functions of universities across the decades were also examined to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the context. The chapter, then, focuses on the development of universities and higher education institutions in the public sector as well as the private sector, elaborating on the challenges and issues specific to each of these sectors. The last section of the chapter discusses selected issues of higher education in Malaysia, notably the changing state–university relationship, internationalisation of higher education services and the need for an inclusive higher education sector.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Research in International and Comparative Education (CRICE), University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Lorraine Pe Symaco

  2. National Higher Education Research Institute (IPPTN), University Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia

    Chang Da Wan

Authors
  1. Lorraine Pe Symaco
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  2. Chang Da Wan
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Correspondence to Lorraine Pe Symaco .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Education, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Moses Samuel

  2. Faculty of Education, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Meng Yew Tee

  3. Faculty of Education, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Lorraine Pe Symaco

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Symaco, L.P., Wan, C.D. (2017). Development of Higher Education in Malaysia: Issues and Challenges. In: Samuel, M., Tee, M., Symaco, L. (eds) Education in Malaysia. Education in the Asia-Pacific Region: Issues, Concerns and Prospects, vol 39. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-4427-4_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-4427-4_4

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-10-4426-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-10-4427-4

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

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