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| Institutes of Higher Learning |
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| Purpose of These Guidelines |
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| These Guidelines are intended to apply to: |
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companies offering higher education; |
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institutions of higher education and |
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| (iii) |
qualified faculties in institutions of higher education that are developers or heavy
users of multimedia and information technology products and services. |
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| An Applicant for the incentives set out in these Guidelines may apply for such incentives if it meets the relevant qualifying criteria and
observes the conditions for the grant of MSC Malaysia Status or MSC Malaysia incentives, which are described in these Guidelines. |
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| Background |
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| The Government of Malaysia recognises that both public and private sector institutions are strategic in developing human resources for the
Multimedia Super Corridor and can provide education and training for knowledge workers in Malaysia. With this in mind, new laws have been
introduced to liberalize the Government's education policy, to promote a healthy growth of educational services and to ensure the provision
of quality private sector education . There are five principal statutes which relate to higher education. They are: |
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1. The Education Act 1996; |
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2. The Universities and University Colleges Act 1996; |
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3. The Private Higher Educational Institutions Act 1996; |
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4. The National Council on Higher Education Act 1996; and |
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5. Lembaga Akreditasi Negara Act 1996 |
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| All the statutes (except the Universities and Universities Colleges Act, 1996) have a direct bearing on providers of private higher education.
Higher education in Malaysia may be provided as follows: |
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1. The Education Act 1996; |
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2. The Universities and University Colleges Act 1996; |
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| However, MSC Malaysia incentives under these Guidelines will only be granted to providers of higher education for qualifying activities and if they meet the criteria set out in these Guidelines. |
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| Qualifying Activities |
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| MSC Malaysia Status may be given to Applicants that offer an internationally recognised standard of higher education in multimedia, information
technology, engineering, the sciences and other related fields that will contribute to the development of human resources for the MSC Malaysia.
The specific criteria for MSC Malaysia incentives are set out in Chapter 2. Suitable applicants who locate their business or activities in the MSC
Malaysia or one of the designated Cybercities, will also reap the full benefits of the incentives that are offered under the Bill of Guarantees. |
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| Institutions of Higher Education |
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| Higher education creates opportunities and helps to equip individuals with the appropriate knowledge and skills. In Malaysia, there are both public higher educational institutions and private higher educational institutions. Both provide higher education to students leading to the award of a certificate, diploma or degree. These institutions, presently, offer a wide range of courses ranging from Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, Medicine, Management, Accountancy, Science, Arts, Hospitality to other technical and soft-skill related courses. |
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| Public Higher Educational Institutions |
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| A public higher educational institution may be defined as a higher educational institution (including a University or a University College) established and maintained by the Government, to provide: |
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1. on-campus higher education; |
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2. off-campus distance education; or |
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3. on-campus higher education or off-campus distance education in affiliation, association or collaboration with other approved higher educational institutions, professional bodies or organisations whether situated within or outside Malaysia. |
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| Private Higher Educational Institutions |
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| Private higher educational institutions are privately funded institutions which have been registered with the Ministry of Education and include: |
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Private higher educational institutions registered under the PHEIA; |
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Branch campuses of foreign universities or colleges; and |
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Distance Learning Centres. |
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| Broadly, private higher educational institutions registered under the PHEIA may be: |
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without University or University College status ("Private Colleges"); or |
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with University or University College status ("Private Universities") |
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| Private Colleges |
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| Higher education offered by Private Colleges may include: |
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Internal Programmes of Private Colleges at Diploma levels; |
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Overseas/Local Bachelor Degree Programmes obtained through an arrangement between Private Colleges and Overseas/Local Public Universities; |
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| Private Universities |
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| Private Universities are granted University status by the Minister of Education under PHEIA and are allowed to award degrees. A Private University
may only apply for registration after an invitation for its establishment has been issued by the Minister of Education and after it has been approved
as a Private University. Application for registration under PHEIA is to be made to the Registrar General of Private Higher Education the
following manner:- |
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In the prescribed form and in the prescribed manner; |
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Accompanied by the prescribed fee; |
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Accompanied by a copy of the draft of the constitution of the proposed institution and a report by the applicant's banker to indicate his
financial standing if the applicant is a natural person; or a copy of the applicants memorandum and articles of association or other constituent
document under which the applicant is established, duly verified by a statutory declaration made by an authorised officer of the applicant and
a copy of the latest audited balance sheet, profit and loss account and the reports, if any, of the auditors and the directors of the applicant,
if the applicant is not a natural person; and |
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Other information, particulars or documents as may be requested by the Registrar General for the purpose of determining the application
and the suitability of the applicant. |
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| MSC Malaysia Incentives For Companies, Institutions of Higher Education And Qualified Faculties |
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| MSC Malaysia incentives may be granted to institutions or to a specific faculty or faculties within an institution if the whole institution does
not carry out qualifying activities. The institutions and faculties that qualify for MSC Malaysia incentives are required to forward their applications
to the MDeC and to comply with the requirements set out in Chapter 2 . These institutions and faculties can reap the benefits of the MSC Malaysia
incentives and the Bill of Guarantees, the extent of which will depend upon the location and scope of their qualifying activities. MSC Malaysia
incentives will be granted to companies, institutions of higher education or faculties on the following bases: |
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| Companies / institutions / faculties located in the designated Cybercities |
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| Companies / institutions / faculties located in the designated Cybercities shall enjoy full MSC Malaysia incentives as well as the benefits of the
multimedia environment and infrastructure of the designated Cybercities (see Chapter 4 for details), provided they:- |
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Have courses in engineering, information technology, multimedia arts & science and related fields |
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Conduct and support R&D activities |
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| Companies / institutions / faculties located outside Cybercities but within the MSC Malaysia |
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| Companies / institutions / faculties located outside Cybercities but within the MSC Malaysia shall enjoy tailored MSC Malaysia incentives and
the benefits of the multimedia environment and infrastructure of the MSC Malaysia (see Chapter 4 for details), provided they : |
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Have courses in engineering, information technology, multimedia arts & science and related fields |
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Conduct and support R&D activities |
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| Companies / institutions / faculties located outside the MSC Malaysia and outside the designated Cybercities |
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| Companies / institutions / faculties located outside the MSC Malaysia and outside the designated Cybercities shall enjoy selected
MSC Malaysia incentives but will not enjoy the benefits of the multimedia environment and infrastructure of the MSC Malaysia
(see Chapter 4 for details), provided that they :- |
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Have courses in engineering, information technology, multimedia arts & science and related fields |
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Conduct and support R&D activities |
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