Advertisement

Higher Education Policy

, Volume 27, Issue 3, pp 301–321 | Cite as

Higher Education, Learning Regions and the Malaysian Transformation Policies

  • Norzaini Azman
  • Morshidi Sirat
  • Abdul Razak Ahmad
Article
First Online:

Abstract

The process of globalisation has undoubtedly impacted countries, bringing about different challenges for each country, region and locality. Many countries have responded positively to the demands and challenges through a societal transformation process with an emphasis on developing tertiary education, research and innovative capacities. Drawing upon our experience with two cases of newly developed learning regions, Kuala Lumpur city-region and Iskandar Malaysia region, we examine Malaysia’s effort at transforming its higher education system in the context of learning region objectives. Key government policies, namely, the Tenth Malaysia Plan, the National Higher Education Strategic Plan 2007–2020, the Economic Transformation Programme as well as documents of the learning regions’ master plans were included in the document analysis. Although it remains to be seen how the learning regions will emerge, the experience in transforming higher education based on the learning region concept is highly relevant to developing countries that are attempting to shift their traditional economy to a more knowledge-intensive economy.

Keywords

higher education policies learning regions Malaysia transformation plan regional development 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

References

  1. Baumfeld, L. (2005) Balanced Scorecard fur Regionen, Wien: The Leader Project.Google Scholar
  2. Belusi, F. and Sedita, S.R. (2008) ‘The symbiotic division of labour between heterogeneous districts in the Dutch and Italian horticultural industry’, Urban Studies 45 (13): 2715–2734.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  3. Bunnell, T., Barter, P.A. and Morshidi, S. (2002) ‘Kuala Lumpur metropolitan area. A globalizing city-region’, Cities 19 (5): 357–370.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  4. Economic Planning Unit. (2006) Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) 2006–2010. http://www.epu.gov.my, accessed 16 April 2012.
  5. Financial Express (2007) Strategies towards a global education hub, http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2007/08/31/9637.html, accessed 16 April 2012.Google Scholar
  6. Florida, R.L. (1995) ‘Towards the learning region’, Futures 27 (5): 527–536.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  7. Florida, R.L. (2003) ‘Cities and the creative class’, City and Community 2 (1): 3–19.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  8. Gertler, M. (2001) ‘Best practice? Geography, learning and the institutional limits to strong convergence’, Journal of Economic Geography 1 (1): 5–26.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  9. Gibbons, M., Limoges, C., Nowotny, H., Schwartzman, S., Scott, P. and Trow, M. (1994) The New Production of Knowledge: The Dynamics of Science and Research in Contemporary Societies, New York: Sage.Google Scholar
  10. Iskandar Malaysia (2010) Comprehensive development plan 2006–2025 for South Johor economic region, http://www.iskandarmalaysia.com.my/comprehensive-development-plan-cdp, accessed 10 January 2012.
  11. Iskandar Regional Development Authority (2010) Iskandar Malaysia, http://www.iskandarmalaysia.com.my/, accessed 10 January 2012.
  12. Jarvis, P. (2007) ‘The learning regions and European policy: A sociological analysis’, Lifelong Learning in Europe XII (1): 8–14.Google Scholar
  13. Kuala Lumpur Education City (KLEC) Sdn. Bhd (2009) Kuala Lumpur Education City, http://www.klec.com/my/klecgroup/group_about_01.html, accessed 26 July 2013.Google Scholar
  14. Longworth, N. (2000) Towards a European learning society (TELS), http://www.tels.euproject.org, accessed 16 April 2012.
  15. Longworth, N. (2006) Learning Cities, Learning Regions, Learning Communities: Lifelong Learning and Local Government, London: Routledge.Google Scholar
  16. Lundvall, B.A. (1992) National Innovation System: Towards a Theory of Innovation and Interactive Learning, London: Printer Publishers.Google Scholar
  17. Lukesch, R. and Payer, H. ÖAR Regional Consultants Ltd. (undated) Learning region, evolving governance. http://www.regionenaktiv.de/bilder/paper_lukesch_payer_hagen.pdf, accessed 16 April 2012.
  18. Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) (2007a) The National Higher Education Strategic Plan 2007–2020?, Putrajaya: Ministry of Higher Education of Malaysia.Google Scholar
  19. Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) (2007b) The National Higher Education Action Plan 2007–2010?, Putrajaya: Ministry of Higher Education of Malaysia.Google Scholar
  20. Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) (2010) The National Higher Education Action Plan 2010–2015?, Putrajaya: Ministry of Higher Education of Malaysia.Google Scholar
  21. Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) (2011a) The National Higher Education Plan 2, Malaysia’s Global Reach: A New Dimension, Putrajaya: Ministry of Higher Education of Malaysia.Google Scholar
  22. Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) (2011b) The blueprint of lifelong learning? http://www.mohe.gov.my/portal/images/utama/penerbitan/Enculturation%20of%20Lifelong%20LearningFINAL%20v1.pdf, accessed 2 May 2013.
  23. Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) (2011c) Knowledge transfer program? http://www.mohe.gov.my/psptn/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=84&Itemid=60, accessed 2 May 2013.
  24. Morgan, K. (1997) ‘The learning region: Institutions, innovation and regional renewal?’ Regional Studies 31 (5): 491–503.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  25. Morgon-Klien, B. and Osborne, M. (2007) The Concepts and Practices of Lifelong Learning, London, New York: Routledge.Google Scholar
  26. Nemeth, B. (2010) ‘The accelerating roles of higher education in regions through the European lifelong learning initiative’, European Journal of Education 45 (3): 451–465.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  27. OECD (2001) Cities and Regions in the New Learning Economy, Paris: OECD.Google Scholar
  28. OECD (2011) Higher Education in Regional and City Development: State of Penang, Malaysia, Paris: OECD.Google Scholar
  29. OECD (1996) The Knowledge-Based Economy, Paris: OECD.Google Scholar
  30. PEMANDU (Performance Management and Delivery Unit, Prime Minister’s Department) (2010) Economic transformation programme: A roadmap for Malaysia, http://etp.pemandu.gov.my, accessed 16 January 2012.
  31. Piazza, R. (2010) ‘The learning region between pedagogy and economy’, European Journal of Education 45 (3): 402–415.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  32. Porter, M. (1998) The Competitive Advantage of Nations: With a New Introduction, Basingstoke: Macmillan Business.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  33. Reichert, S. (2006) The Rise of Knowledge Regions: Emerging Opportunities and Challenges for Universities, Belgium: European University Association.Google Scholar
  34. Sawahel, W. (2009) Knowledge hub in progress, University World News, 27 September, http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20090925024920661, accessed 20 January 2012.
  35. Sirat, M. (2006) ‘‘Malaysia’’, in UNESCO/APEID and SEAMEO-RIHED Higher Education in South-East Asia, Bangkok: UNESCO, pp. 101–136.Google Scholar
  36. Sirat, M. (2009) ‘Strategic planning directions of Malaysia’s higher education: University autonomy in the midst of political uncertainties’, Higher Education 59 (4): 461–473.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  37. Sirat, M. (2010) ‘Introduction’, in M. Zailan (ed.) 50 Years of Higher Education Development in Malaysia (1957–2007), Pulau Pinang: IPPTN and Penerbit Universiti Sains Malaysia, pp. ix–xvii.Google Scholar
  38. The Brookings Institutions (2007) MetroNation: How US Metropolitan Areas Fuel American Prosperity, Washington DC: The Brookings Institution.Google Scholar
  39. The Work Foundation (undated) Ideopolis: Knowledge city-regions, http://www.theworkfoundation.com/research/ideopolis.aspx, accessed 6 April 2012.
  40. Thinesse-Demel, J. (2010) ‘Leaning regions in Germany’, European Journal of Education 45 (3): 437–449.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  41. van Winden, W., van den Berg, L. and Pol, P. (2007) ‘European cities in the knowledge economy: Towards a typology’, Urban Studies 44 (3): 525–549.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  42. Wolfe, D.A. and Gertler, M.S. (2001) ‘Globalisation and economic restructuring in Ontario: From industrial heartland to learning region’, European Planning Studies 9 (5): 575–592.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© International Association of Universities 2013

Authors and Affiliations

  • Norzaini Azman
    • 1
  • Morshidi Sirat
    • 2
  • Abdul Razak Ahmad
    • 3
  1. 1.Universiti Kebangsaan MalaysiaBangiMalaysia
  2. 2.School of Humanities, Universiti Sains MalaysiaMalaysia
  3. 3.Universiti Pertahanan Nasional MalaysiaSungai BesiMalaysia

Personalised recommendations

Cite article

Buy options