Applications for the sponsorship of post-graduate studies by the Higher Education Ministry worth a total of RM2.68 billion as announced in the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP) opened today, aimed at churning out highly educated human capital.

Higher Education Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the allocation for the sponsorship would be channelled through four programmes, namely, the Sponsorship Programme for Masters degree within the country (MyMaster), the Sponsorship Programme for a Doctorate degree within the country (MyPhD), the Industrial PhD Programme and the Public Institution of Higher Learning Academic Training Scheme Programme (SLAI).

"Under the 10MP, we are targeting to churn out 24,300 doctorates (PhD) and 40,000 degree holders. Currently, the number of PhD holders in the country is 12,096 while the enrolment for PhD studies in the country is 16,947," he told reporters after the pre-launching programme at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) today.

Earlier in his speech, Mohamed Khaled said the sponsorship would determine the success of the MyBrain15 programme to churn out 48,000 PhD holders by 2020, and 60,000 PhD holders by 2023 or under the 12MP.

He said the strength of the MyBrain15 was that it was not confined to the participation of the academic staff at the higher learning institutons only, but also attracted the involvement of members of the public who wished to continue their studies at the post-graduate level, particularly for the PhD.

Information on the sponsorship can be obtained at the ministry's website .

- Bernama