Ministry sets up secretariat for private varsities

The Star

CYBERJAYA: A new secretariat has been established for private universities and university colleges to coordinate student affair programmes.

The secretariat, comprising representatives from various private institutions, would also represent the private sector in dealings with the Higher Education Ministry.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said 20 out of 37 private institutions of higher learning have joined the secretariat. This involved a student population of 80,000.

Mohamed Khaled said the ministry's Graduate Employability Unit, which was under its Industrial Relationship Department, was being restructured to include more than just internship programmes. Elements including entrepreneurship, job placement, training and improving on finishing school programmes in universities were being planned.