ASIAN EDUCATION FOR THE WORLD LABOR MARKET: A MALAYSIAN SURVEY OF MIGRATION PROPENSITY

Abstract

The purpose of the study: This research explores issues related to human mobility trend reflecting an increasing outflow of intellectual talents by surveying the migration propensity of future professional labours in Malaysia using small samples from selected universities having different establishment orientation and student compositions. It also surveys factors of their migration intention decisions. Methodology: A quantitative approach utilizing a questionnaire survey distributed to final year students was adopted. A total of 193 usable responses are used in the analysis covering descriptive and mean differences across five identified dimensions of gender, race, academic performance, university type, and education financing. Main Findings: The results indicate that 51% of the respondents have the intention of leaving the country, the majority of whom are private university students, females, Malays, studies funded by education loans, and those from the average group of academic achievement. The low economic reward was ranked first as the main factor in influencing their migration decision. Surprisingly, the worldwide application of accounting-based knowledge plays little role in students’ decision of migrating abroad, signalling students' inability to appreciate the economic consequence of mastering such knowledge and skills. Implications: The research contributes to the public policy debate with respect to education and human mobility by providing a strong basis for a reality check on the sustainability of Malaysia’s future landscape of its professional labour market. It also feeds critical policy inputs for all stakeholders involved, particularly the employers, in providing future Malaysian professionals with a conducive, meaningful, and rewarding career to attract and retain them.