English Malaysia, the country’s representative body for ELT providers, has called upon the new government to simplify visa requirements for English language students looking to continue onto higher education.
In a letter to the Ministry of Home Affairs, English Malaysia has requested the academic progression process, which allows students to apply for a new visa onshore when progressing to a higher level of study, be extended to ELT students.
鈥淲e look forward to having a clear process to matriculate students to higher education”
Currently, English learners must leave the country to apply for a new student visa if they wish to continue onto higher education.
鈥淲e hope that this process can be smoothened out by the government by allowing them to apply for a progression onshore,鈥� said Sean Chee, English Malaysia co-founder.
Speaking with 小瓢虫传媒, Chee, who also operates ELT provider ELS Malaysia, added that doing so would have a significant positive impact on the sector, with many students choosing to study English in Malaysia with the explicit goal of continuing to university.
鈥淲e look forward to having a clear process that language centres need to abide by to matriculate students to higher education without having the need for them to leave the country.鈥�
If implemented, the change would not be the first for Malaysia鈥檚 visa processing, which was in 2016 as part of the country鈥檚 broader goal of attracting 250,000 students by 2025.
