Malaysia Is Short Of Scientists And Engineers; We Need 500,000 Of Them By 2020

When you were young, what was the one job you’ve always dreamed of having when you grow up? If you answered scientist or engineer, well, your country needs you.

According to a finding by The National Council for Scientific and Research Development, Malaysia needs to have at least 500,000 scientists and engineers by the year 2020 to deal with the challenges of the Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR 4.0).

And now, you must be wondering how many fellow STEMs we have in Malaysia, right? Well, just to warn you, the numbers are pretty alarming.

There are currently only 70,000 registered engineers, which is only 17 per cent of the targeted amount.

Higher Education Department director-general Datin Paduka Dr. Siti Hamisah Tapsir told The New Straits Times: “These are staggering numbers for us at the Ministry of Education”.

“It is paramount that our nation has more programmes and platforms to build interest in technology and engineering.”

Dexter's Laboratory made us want to be a scientist and have our own lab!

Dr. Siti added that education is one of the most vital investments a country can make for its people and its future.

So, if you have siblings who are still in school or if you’re currently considering which path of tertiary education you should choose, well, Malaysia needs more scientists and engineers!

Who knows, you’ll be the next Albert Einstein and find a groundbreaking cure for an incurable disease.