QUALITY ASSURING HIGHER EDUCATION IN MALAYSIA THE MALAYSIAN

QUALITY ASSURING HIGHER EDUCATION IN MALAYSIA : THE MALAYSIAN QUALIFICATIONS AGENCY (MQA) Malaysian Qualifications Agency 13 -15 November 2009 Legend Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 1

INTRODUCTION TO HIGHER EDUCATION IN MALAYSIA • • In the last two decades, Malaysian higher education has gone through a metamorphosis. its colonial economy towards knowledge based economy, (now high income economy) Massification Malaysia an “international meeting place of the minds-regional hub”. Human capital focus 2

Higher education, a regulated field • Education Act 1996 • Private Higher Educational Institutions Act 1996 (Amended 2009) • Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (amended 2009) • National Council on Higher Education Act 1996 • National Higher Education Funding Act 1997 • Lembaga Akreditasi Negara Act 1996 (Repealed) and replaced with the Malaysian Qualifications Agency 2007

National Higher Education Strategic Plans 2007 -2020 The Seven Strategic Thrusts • Widening Access and Increasing Equity • Improving the Quality of Teaching and Learning • Intensifying Research and Innovation • Strengthening of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) • Intensifying Internationalisation • Enculturation of Lifelong Learning • Reinforcing Mo. HE Delivery System

Higher Education and Human Resource Development in Malaysia • Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) • Post SPM or O levels • Public universities (20) • Private universities (44) • Polytechnics (25) • Private Colleges (500+) • Community Colleges (40) • 900, 000 students (includes 69, 164 international students) Others : • Ministry of Education–Pre -school, Primary secondary education Teachers Colleges • Ministry of Human Resource Development Skills Training • Others includes Defence, Health, Youth & Culture,

REPOSITIONING QUALITY ASSURANCE IN MALAYSIA • 1997 National Accreditation Board (Lembaga Akreditasi Negara, LAN) was est. for QA of programmes in the private higher education sector • 2002 -Quality assurance (audit) division in the Ministry was setup for public universities • MQA was established under the Malaysian Qualifications Agency Act 2007 (1//11/07) • The merger of LAN and the QAD provides for a common quality assurance platform. • It symbolizes the maturing Malaysian higher education, changing government’s policies, trends and societal needs and the need to strengthen and consolidate. • Other bodies playing a very important role higher education is the Depeartment of public service and the statutory profesional bodies 6

THE MQA IN OPERATION • The Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) aspires to become a credible and internationally recognized higher education quality assurance body that inspires the confidence of its stakeholders through competent, responsible, accountable and transparent good practices. • The main role of the MQA is to be the guardian of the Malaysian Qualifications Framework (MQF) as a reference point for national qualifications, and to oversee quality assurance practices and accreditation of national higher education. • A Council, accreditation committees and executive arm • Accountable to Minister for Higher Education 7

MQA’S CORE ACTIVITIES • to implement the Malaysian Qualifications Framework (MQF) • to develop standards and criteria, generic and by disciplines, as reference for conferment of awards • to quality assure higher education programmes and institutions • to perform function as a national information centre-registry of accredited qualifications in the Malaysian Qualifications Register (MQR) • Others – Self -accrediting inst. certification, Rating 8 (SETARA 0 & Academic performance audit

Principles and values • • Benchmarked against international best practices Quality assurance in Malaysian higher education with a developmental approach Ensuring compliance to the MQF Enhancing institutional effectiveness Voluntariness, independence (decision making), objective, fair, transparent and collaborative approach Peer assessment • Evidence based • • 9

THE MALAYSIAN QUALIFICATIONS FRAMEWORK (MQF) • The Malaysian Qualifications Framework (MQF) classifies higher education qualifications based on a set of nationally agreed and internationally benchmarked set of criteria that clarifies the academic levels, learning outcomes and credit system based on student academic load. It integrates all national qualifications and provides pathways that link them systematically. • Supporting Outcomes-Based education 10

MQF: QUALIFICATION LEVELS AND PATHWAYS LIFE LONG LEARNING Skill Qualfications Vocationa l and Technical POSTGRAD CERT & DIPLOMA LEVELS A P E L 5 4 3 2 1 ADV DIPLOMA (40 C) SKILLS DIPLOMA TECH & VOC (90 C) DIPLOMA SKILLS CERT TECH & VOC CERTIFICATE (60 C) SCHOOL CERT Academic DOCTORAL 8 MASTERS(4 0) 7 6 GRADUATE CERT & DIPLOMA BACHELOR S (120 C) CREDITS NOMENCLATURE HIGHER SCHOOL CERT; FOUNDATION(50) 11 MATRICULATION

Learner centred /LLL Each level –*8 generic learning outcomes descriptors 8 domains 1. Knowledge 8. Practical skills 3. Problem solving and scientific skills 7. Social skills and responsibilities 6. Information management and lifelong learning skill 11/9/2020 2. Values, attitudes and professionalism pzv 5. Communications, leadership and team skills 4. Managerial and entrepreneurial skills 12

Credits and Learning Outcomes • Credits for quantitative academic load and student learning time • Planning in curriculum-T &L activities (relative value to components-currency) • Learner centered-volume of learning to achieve generic level and program learning outcomes • Credit transfer system – connecting to other Credit Systems

THE QA FRAMEWORKAccreditation And Audit Uphold the Malaysian Qualifications Framework • PROVISIONAL ACCREDITATION – is the complying with quality requirements to obtain approval and to conduct the programme. A candidacy for full accreditation ; subject to monitoring • FINAL / FULL ACCREDITATION is the formal certification that the awards conferred by the higher education institution are in accordance with the set standards • AUDIT- for various purpose; programme maintenance, registeration of programmes, thematic audit, or full institutional audit 14

9 areas –Quality Assurance Standards 15

Partnering and associations in Quality Assurance ü Assessors and expert groups ü Close consultation and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders ü professional bodies, ü Higher education providers ü Students ü Agencies ü Ministries ü Regulated and non regulated professional Bodies ü QA bodies collaborations- confidence and acceptance (staff exchange, internships and workshops) ü Regional network AQAN (ASEAN Quality Assurance Network), OIC and international associations (INQAAHE and APQN) 16

Challenges • Transition period begins in 2009 • QA body responding to rapid socialeconomic and institutional changes • Professionalism • Volume • Dealing with diversity • Stakeholders growth and support

TERIMA KASIH THANK YOU zita@mqa. gov. my 18