More than 326,000 students enrolled in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programmes at Malaysia’s public universities between 2023 and March 2026, accounting for nearly 60% of total enrolments as the government ramps up efforts to build talent for high-growth industries.
Deputy Higher Education Minister Adam Adli Abdul Halim said 326,419 of the 556,556 diploma and bachelor’s degree students admitted to public higher education institutions (IPTAs) during the period pursued STEM-related fields, while the remaining 230,137 enrolled in non-STEM programmes.
“The statistics show that public universities continue to place strong emphasis on developing STEM talent in line with national needs and future industry demand, particularly in high-technology sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, automation, digitalisation and green technology,” he told the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday.
Responding to a question from Datuk Dr Ku Abd Rahman Ku Ismail (PN-Kubang Pasu), Adam Adli said the National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (DSTIN) 2021-2030 does not set targets based on the number of engineers in specific disciplines.
Instead, he said the policy focuses on strengthening the ecosystem of Researchers, Scientists, Engineers and Technologists (RSET), with Malaysia targeting a ratio of 200 RSET professionals for every 10,000 workers by 2030.
Based on the country’s projected workforce of 17.06 million, Malaysia will require about 341,200 RSET professionals by the end of the decade to meet the target.
Adam Adli said the Higher Education Ministry will continue strengthening the higher education ecosystem to ensure programme offerings, industry capacity and talent development remain aligned with evolving industry needs and the country’s economic aspirations.
On efforts to meet rising demand for AI, semiconductor and digital engineering talent, he said the ministry is prioritising the four universities under the Malaysian Technical University Network (MTUN) by expanding specialist lecturers, research capabilities and high-tech facilities.
