AQUACULTURE AND FISHERIES EDUCATION IN MALAYSIA

Globally, fish contributes to more than 17% of the animal protein intake, and fish-based products keep gaining their significance due to numerous emerging evidences on health benefits of fish. In Malaysia, fisheries and aquaculture industry has been identified as one of the major drivers of the economic transformation of the country.  Towards achieving these objectives, aquaculture and fisheries education is important in enhancing and sustaining production through suitable capital development that could match the expansion of aquatic resource-based industries.

The early scenario of setting up academic institutions related to fisheries and aquaculture was more focused on providing skilled human resources for the implementation of the fisheries-aquaculture national development programs.  Beginning with only three public universities specializing in fisheries-aquaculture related programs in 1980s, the number has now doubled. Due to pressing needs for specialization and application of technological know-how in the fisheries-aquaculture education, universities and other higher learning institutions have restructured their programs with better focus on creativity and innovation in the academic-industry cooperation. In the current 11th Malaysian Plan, food security has been identified as one of the main pillars in setting up the development plan in agriculture industry, including fisheries and aquaculture.  As a result, universities are also diversifying up their research strategies and postgraduate programs to accommodate the implementation of targeted government plans on food security issues.

The development and expansion in fisheries-aquaculture education in Malaysia are not only reflected by the growing number of institutions but also by its quality control. The Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia, through the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA), is the main governing body controlling the quality of the curriculum offered by the public and private universities in Malaysia. Such an implementation has set a high standard for the fisheries-aquaculture education program in the country.