2023 Budget: Higher Education Ministry hoping for huge allocation to realise digitalisation plan

KUALA LUMPUR - The Higher Education Ministry (KPT) is hoping to be given a huge allocation in the 2023 Budget to realise its digitalisation plan.

Its secretary-general (KSU) Datuk Seri Abdul Razak Jaafar said if digitalisation is to be made the main focus in the higher education sector, the cooperation of the Economy Ministry and the Finance Ministry would be needed.

"Both ministries need to work hand in hand with KPT to achieve it,” he said when appearing as a guest on Bernama TV's Ruang Bicara Wacana Akademia with the topic "Higher Education Leadership: Aspirations and Current Challenges”, which was also attended by Higher Education Leadership Academy (AKEPT) director Prof Datuk Dr Nasrudin Mohammed, here, recently.

Last Jan 30, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin in his New Year 2023 mandate said the ministry’s digitalisation plan will focus on all aspects of management, education, learning and services.

"Currently, it is in the mid-term review process. We are asked to review the targets that have been set and the minister wants digitalisation to be one of the targets under the Education Ministry for the future.

"This will be translated in the form of a budget or allocation, which we will apply for in the third, fourth rolling plan and under the 13th Malaysia Plan,” he said.

He said the ministry also took into account the modernisation of information technology and communication to change teaching and learning methods at institutions of higher learning.

"When we were hit by Covid-19, many activities stopped, so at that time we could not operate as usual. In the new normal situation, it means that changes to the learning and teaching methods need to be adopted.

"But now, we are in the endemic phase, i.e. post Covid-19 where students have returned to the campus. So there needs to be a digital learning and teaching method," he said.

Meanwhile, Nasrudin, said AKEPT's core function and role is managing the best talent in the higher education sector and that included aspects of identification, profiling, development and monitoring of potential higher education leadership.

"AKEPT’s focus is to create signature programmes that are not only focused on the leadership of public universities, but also members of the university's board of directors and expanded to private universities.

"Apart from that, AKEPT needs to be exalted as a Centre of Excellence for higher education leadership not only in the country, but also in the Asean region," he said. - BERNAMA