Language and skills centres, under EMGS
EDUCATION Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) has extended to cover the processing of international students’ applications to language centres and skills training centres registered with the Education Ministry from March 1.
EMGS chief executive officer Mohd Yazid Abd Hamid said centres needed to submit all students’ applications online via the EMGS ‘Student Application and Registration System (STARS)’ portal.
“At EMGS, we have a two-tier vetting process where the first, on academic qualifications is done by EMGS while the second, on security and immigration-related matters is done by the Immigration Department,” he said in a statement.
If all documents were in order and fulfilled the requirements set by the Education Ministry and the Immigration Department, Mohd Yazid said the visa approval letter would be issued within 14 working days.
He said there were currently 431 language centres registered with the Education Ministry, out of which 81 were approved to recruit international students with nine skills training centres.
This follows an announcement by Second Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh in January that the EMGS would be extended to cover language centres. He said the move would help monitor international students here more effectively.
He had earlier said that the EMGS would extend to public tertiary institutions from April 1 onwards.
Previously, the ministry’s Private Education Division managed international applications into skills training centres and language centres.
“The expansion of our services to cover language centres and skills training centres will allow efficient streamlining of applications, not to mention a more effective tracking mechanism for all international students in higher education institutes in the country,” said Mohd Yazid.
He said 54,728 applications from 147 countries were submitted through EMGS last year, an increase of 87% over 2013.
“One of the key assets from the consolidation is the database that we will attain on students, their backgrounds, their academic progression and performance, which will prove useful for international marketing efforts.
“It is also a more efficient surveillance which will translate into better management of our international students. We need to strengthen our service delivery in building a sustainable global education hub,” said Mohd Yazid.
Set up by the Education Ministry in 2013, the EMGS initially served as a one-stop centre for foreign students enrolled at private higher education institutions.