Kuala lumpur: A total of 326,419 out of 556,556 diploma and first degree students who entered public institutions of higher learning (IPTA) between 2023 and March 2026 pursued studies in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields, the Dewan Rakyat was informed today.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Deputy Minister of Higher Education Adam Adli Abd Halim revealed that based on data from the ministry's MyMOHES system, the remaining 230,137 students pursued non-STEM fields. He emphasized that IPTA continues to prioritize developing STEM talent to meet national priorities and future industry demands, particularly in sectors such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, automation, digitalisation, and green technology.
Adam Adli was responding to a query from Datuk Dr Ku Abd Rahman Ku Ismail (PN-Kubang Pasu) regarding the ratio of students entering IPTA and private higher education institutions (IPTS) in STEM and non-STEM fields. The question also addressed the projected number of engineers required under the National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (DSTIN) 2021-2030 to satisfy industry demand.
He explained that the DSTIN 2021-2030, under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, does not set human capital targets based on the absolute number of engineers by discipline. Instead, it adopts a broader approach through the development of a comprehensive Researchers, Scientists, Engineers and Technologists (RSET) ecosystem. The policy aims for a ratio of 200 RSET personnel for every 10,000 workers by 2030. With a projected national workforce of approximately 17.06 million people, Malaysia will require about 341,200 RSET professionals by 2030.
Additionally, Adam Adli noted that the ministry would continue to bolster the higher education ecosystem to ensure that programme offerings, institutional capacity, and talent development align with industry needs and the country's development aspirations. In response to a supplementary question from Onn Abu Bakar (PH-Batu Pahat) about efforts to increase expert lecturers, research laboratories, and high-tech facilities, Adam Adli mentioned that the ministry's current focus is on four universities under the Malaysian Technical University Network (MTUN).