As the Penang self-evaluation report notes higher education institutions in the region do not have courses that are especially designed to meet the needs of the Penang region or are “drawn upon based upon the specific characteristics of Penang.” ( There is no systematic regional strategy at the federal, supra-regional (Northern Corridor Economic Region) or state levels to engage higher education institution in addressing the region’s human resource challenges. The engagement of the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) in the region is largely a consequence of being the largest institution in the region, not a result of deliberate strategy of the institution or region.