MARA operates several
junior colleges or
boarding schools and the
University of Kuala Lumpur, a multi-campus technical university. Until 1976,
Universiti Teknologi MARA was also operated by MARA, though it has since become its own entity under the
Ministry of Higher Education. The
junior colleges, referred to as
Maktab Rendah Sains MARA (
MARA Junior Science Colleges, often abbreviated as MRSMs), are operated by the Education and Training (Secondary) Department of MARA. Their stated mission is to "produce Bumiputra students of potential in science and technology". Until 2005, the MRSMs were only open to Bumiputra students. However, following the
Barisan Nasional government's pledge during its campaign in the
2004 general election, a quota of 10% of all places in MRSMs was granted to non-Bumiputras. In admissions, preference is given to students from low-income families, rural areas, and/or those living in
squatter settlements in the cities. In addition to MRSMs and the UniKL, MARA operates vocational and professional colleges such as Pusat GIAT MARA, Institut Kemahiran MARA (IKM) and Kolej Kemahiran MARA. These vocational colleges provide a second higher education option to students who are unable to continue their studies in universities. Other colleges include Kolej Kemahiran Tinggi MARA, Institut Kemahiran MARA, Kolej Professional MARA, and Kolej MARA.
Scholarships are offered to Bumiputra students to attend local and foreign institutions. Students are required to specialise in certain professions such as engineering, medicine, or accounting. == Subsidiaries ==