PURPOSE

1. The Higher Education Institute (HEI) Entrepreneurship Development Policy aims to encourage and strengthen a more planned and holistic entrepreneurial development among local HEIs in an effort to:

2.To produce quality human capital with entrepreneurial thinking, attributes and values; and

3. To produce more entrepreneurs who will act as a catalyst for the transformation of the country's economy into a high -income economy and driven by innovation towards achieving developed country status by 2020.

BACKGROUND

Entrepreneurial activity has long been recognized as a catalyst for economic development as well as acting as a key driver in increasing the level of innovation, creativity and competitiveness of a nation. In the context of Malaysia, the aspect of entrepreneurship development, especially among the Bumiputera community has been given serious attention starting with the introduction of the New Economic Policy (NEP) in 1971. Through this policy, entrepreneurship development among the bumiputera community has been made an important national agenda to develop the Bumiputera Commercial and Industrial Community (MPPB), which has been identified as a key approach to restructuring society and in ensuring more active Bumiputera participation in the country's economic development.

Entrepreneurship development, especially Bumiputera entrepreneurs, is focused on four target groups, namely students, students/graduates of HEI, as well as youths and women. In the context of this target group, the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) has a role to lead the development of entrepreneurship among students/graduates of HEIs. 

CURRENT STATUS

In general, efforts and initiatives to apply entrepreneurial values ​​and skills among IPT students can be divided into (3) main components, which are:

1. Awareness Component

2. Cultivation and consolidation.

3. Components of Entrepreneurial Awareness

Awareness Component

This component aims to give awareness to HEI students about the importance of entrepreneurship and inculcate entrepreneurial values ​​starting at the initial stage of students in HEI. As a first step, the Basic Module of Entrepreneurship Cultivation (APK) was introduced in 2007 as a compulsory course of two (2) credits for 1st Year students in all HEIs. The main objective of this module is to inculcate the values ​​and characteristics of entrepreneurship among IPT students.

Component of Entrepreneurial Cultivation

This component aims to cultivate as many HEI students as possible to develop interest in entrepreneurship. MOHE has identified entrepreneurship as one of the main thrusts of credited co -curricular courses in 2009 as one of the mechanisms for cultivating entrepreneurship to improve students' soft skills.

Entrepreneurship Strengthening Components 

This component aims to expose students to the real world of business while helping those who are genuinely interested in venturing into business as a career.

In this regard, HEIs have their own entrepreneurial programs and activities developed by the HEIs themselves or in collaboration with government and private agencies and organizations as well as Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)..

ISSUES AND CHALLENGES

In implementing entrepreneurship programs in HEIs, some of the issues and challenges that arise are as follows:

• There is a Confusion of Understanding About Entrepreneurship Education
• Ideological Differences on Entrepreneurship in Higher Education.
• Lack of Consensus on the Meaning of Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneur
• Lack of Effectiveness of Education and Entrepreneurship Programs in HEIs
• Competence of Entrepreneurship Instructors
• Lack of Resources
• Lack of Collaboration between Academia and Entrepreneurs/Industry
• No Entrepreneurship Data Center
• Quality, Effectiveness and Impact Measurement Mechanisms
• Lack of Parental Support
• Cultivating Entrepreneurship requires Time, Commitment and Patience

RATIONAL

In line with the Government's goal to produce quality, innovative and creative human capital to drive the country's economic transformation to a high -income economy and further achieve developed country status by 2020, education and entrepreneurship programs and activities among HEI students need to be strengthened holistically. In fact, it is undeniable that every element of an individual's soft skills such as communication skills, competitiveness and resilience as well as having high leadership values ​​is a subset of the values ​​found in an entrepreneur.

In addition to the need to produce entrepreneurial graduates or graduates who have entrepreneurial thoughts, attributes and values, more planned and integrated efforts need to be taken by HEIs in providing entrepreneurship strengthening programs and infrastructure as well as a conducive environment for students who truly have interests and desires. to be an entrepreneur.

For an IPT to succeed in producing human capital with entrepreneurial thoughts, attributes and values ​​as well as producing more graduate entrepreneurs, it must be supported by teaching staff who also have entrepreneurial thoughts, attributes and values. In this matter, the application of entrepreneurial values ​​and culture should also be implemented to the teaching staff/officers/entrepreneurship coordinators of HEIs.

POLICIES AND STRATEGY

To enhance and encourage more planned, holistic and high -impact entrepreneurial development in an effort to produce quality human capital with entrepreneurial thinking, attributes and values ​​as well as producing graduate entrepreneurs, six (6) strategic thrusts of the HEI Entrepreneurship Development Policy have been set.

1. Establish an Entrepreneurship Center in each HEI
2. Provide Planned and Holistic Entrepreneurship Education and Programs.
3. Strengthen the Entrepreneurship Development and Strengthening Program.
4. Establishing an Effective Measurement Mechanism.
5. Providing a Conducive Environment and Ecosystem for Entrepreneurship Development.
6. Strengthening the Competence of Entrepreneurship Instructors.

CLOSING

Holistic education and entrepreneurship development in HEIs is very significant in the effort to produce quality human capital with entrepreneurial thinking, attributes and values. These efforts are also to produce more graduate entrepreneurs who will act as a catalyst and driver to transform the country's economy into a high-income and innovation-driven economy towards achieving developed country status by 2020. However, to achieve this objective, attention and concerted efforts need to be taken so that students ’academic performance will not be affected.