PUTRAJAYA: The Higher Education Ministry has set several targets to be achieved in two years under its transformation plan.

For starters, the ministry wants an 80% rate of repayment for student loans disbursed by the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN). Currently, it is below 50%.

It also wants 30% of public universities revenue to be self-generated compared to the current ratio of 10%.

By 2010, there should be 80,000 foreign students enrolled in Malaysian higher education institutions. According to 2007 figures there are less than 50,000 now.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said these were among 22 key performance indicators specified in its transformation plan which he launched here yesterday.

"We want to facilitate the growth of the higher education sector. As such, we will be more customer-focused and support and engage with stakeholders," he said.

The ministry will release a report card every six months on the National Higher Education Strategic Plan.

Khaled also launched a code of practice for institutional audit. "We want to strengthen the sector by encouraging private higher education institutions to merge so that only those that provide quality education continue to operate," he said.

The ministry would also be stricter when approving new colleges to avoid duplication in courses.

Khaled also announced that the ministry would set up a permanent search committee to select candidates for the post of vice-chancellor at public universities.

He also released the names of universities that applied to be considered under the accelerated programme for excellence.

They are Universiti Malaya, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia, International Islamic University Malaysia, Universiti Islam Sains Malaysia and Universiti Teknologi Mara as well as two private universities - Universiti Teknologi Petronas and Universiti Tenaga Nasional.