Between 2023 and March 2026, Malaysian public universities enrolled 556,556 diploma and first-degree students, with 326,419 (about 58.6%-58.7%) choosing STEM fields including science, technology, engineering, and mathematics [1, 2, 3]. Deputy Higher Education Minister Adam Adli Abd Halim said these figures show public universities are focusing on talent development in high-technology sectors such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, automation, digitalisation, and green technology [2].
The National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (DSTIN) 2021–2030 does not set specific engineer targets by discipline. Instead, it adopts a broader approach to building a comprehensive ecosystem of Researchers, Scientists, Engineers, and Technologists (RSET) [1, 2, 3]. DSTIN aims for a ratio of 200 RSET personnel per 10,000 workers by 2030, which translates to around 341,200 RSET professionals needed in a projected workforce of 17.06 million people [1, 2, 3].
To support this growth, the Ministry of Higher Education is focusing on strengthening public institutions. The Malaysian Technical University Network (MTUN), consisting of four universities, is prioritized to increase expert lecturers, research laboratories, and high-tech facilities in engineering programs related to AI, semiconductors, and digital technology [1, 3]. Deputy Minister Adam Adli highlighted that the ministry is currently focusing on MTUN to boost offerings in these strategic areas [3].
At Dewan Rakyat Question Time on July 1, 2026, Adam Adli presented details on STEM enrollment and the DSTIN policy targets, emphasizing the need to align higher education output with industry demand [1, 2, 3]. The Ministry’s efforts reflect ongoing efforts to prepare Malaysia’s workforce for advanced technology sectors by 2030.
