"An Open University presence in Malaysia will enable our migrant workers to pursue studies while working," the embassy`s attache for education and culture, Rusdi,MA said.
Speaking to ANTARA here Wednesday, Rusdi said he had discussed the opening of UT in Malaysia with representatives of UT in Batam Island, Riau Islands Province.
The presence of UT in Malaysia would be backed up by Ambassador Da`i Bachtiar and the president of Batam-based UT, he said.
"We prioritize the presence of UT in Kuala Lumpur," Rusdi said, adding that the sources of potential academic staff were not a big deal for UT in the neighboring country.
In Malaysia, there were a lot of Indonesians who had obtained master and PhD titles, or teachers who taught at Indonesian School in Kuala Lumpur. They could be asked to support the UT, he said.
Asked about whether Indonesian migrant workers could afford the UT`s tuition fees, he said the embassy would ensure that the amount of tuition fees would be similar to those in Indonesia.
"We try to make the tuition fees be similar to those in Indonesia. If the course fees are different, they will not be too different," he said.
The UT students could later use the Indonesian school`s class rooms or the embassy`s hall, he said.
The UT in Malaysia has so far existed in Johor Bahru with 128 registered students.
About two million Indonesians are reportedly working in the neighboring country. Most of them become casual workers but several thousands are recruited as academic staff and researchers.
(T.N004/Uu.R013/HAJM/O001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
