PUTRAJAYA, July 12 — Seven public and 11 private institutions of higher learning have attained an excellent rating in the Rating System for Institutions of Higher Learning (Setara) 2009.

The public institutions are International Islamic University Malaysia, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Malaya, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and Universiti Teknologi Mara, said Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

He said the private institutions were Multimedia University, Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Universiti Teknologi Petronas, Sunway University College, Curtin University of Technology (Sarawak campus), Monash University (Sunway campus), Taylor’s University College, International Medical University, Swinburne University of Technology (Sarawak campus), Nottingham University (Malaysian campus) and Management and Science University.

Twenty-five universities and university colleges, of which 14 were private and 11 public institutions, were rated very good while four private institutions were rated good, he told reporters here today. However, no universities or university colleges earned a distinction rating, said Mohamed Khaled.

He said the Setara rating would be used as an input by the Higher Education Ministry in formulating appropriate higher education policies.

Mohamed Khaled said public and private institutions, which earned an excellent rating, would be entitled to local and foreign government sponsored students besides government research grants.

They are also eligible for research university status and can enrol more graduate and postgraduate students, he added.

He said private Institutions, which were accorded an excellent status, would also enjoy, among others, flexibility and exemptions in applying for teaching permits and seeking approval to set the salary of foreign lecturers.

“They are also exempted from getting approval to set tuition fees and allowed to enrol foreign students automatically,” he said. — Bernama