Eight Higher Education Institutions awarded Self-accreditation

PUTRAJAYA: Eight Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in public and private sectors received self-accreditation status that allows each to accredit their own programmes internally without going through the process set by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA).

The HEIs involved are the University of Malaya (UM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Monash University Sunway Campus, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Swinburne University of Technology, Sarawak and Curtin University of Technology, Sarawak.

Higher Education Minister, Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, said the recognition was the result of cooperation between MQA and a panel of 15 academics from within and outside the country.

On 27 November 2008, the ministry handed over a letter of invitation to the four research universities and university branch campuses abroad to get this self-accreditation award.

He said after announcing self-accrediting status in his office, the audit found that not only meeting the quality requirements prescribed, they even have an internal quality system that meets the level of qualifications awarded.

At the same event, Mohamed Khaled presented awards to representatives of all the self-accrediting institutions involved. Also present, MQA Chairman, Tan Sri Dr Mohamed Salleh Mohamed Yassin and MQA Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Dr Syed Ahmad Hussein.

Mohamed Khaled said, MQA will audit the internal accreditation system of the HEIs concerned within one year after the date of the award and subsequently implements a monitoring audit at least every five years in accordance with the Malaysian Qualifications Agency Act 2007.

With the Self Accreditation, HEIs involved can accredit their own courses except for professional programmes which have to go through the process prescribed by the related professional bodies.

It can also facilitate HEIs graduates to obtain jobs in the public service and sponsorship from corporate and private bodies.

Asked whether more HEIs will be invited to get self-accreditation award, he said, any qualified university is encouraged to apply for self-accreditation, in line with the government’s aspiration to make Malaysia an education hub in the region.

News edited from : Berita Harian