MQA outlines six key steps to achieve its 2017 quality assurance targets

by StudyMalaysia on February 17, 2017 | Top Stories

The Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) has outlined six key steps to achieve its 2017 targets for its quality assurance system and national higher education aspirations. This includes implementing the recognition of qualifications in the public sector and launching the Malaysian Qualifications Framework (MQF) 2.0.

According to MQA chief executive officer, Prof Datuk Dr Rujhan Mustafa, MQA will take over the accreditation of qualifications and courses offered by foreign institutions. He explained that this will be carried out by both MQA and other professional bodies, and that all local and foreign study courses that have been accredited will subsequently be officially recognised by the Malaysian government.

The launching of MQF 2.0 will pave the way for the articulation of students between the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and academic sectors. Prof Rujhan said that the implementation of a single TVET quality assurance system will combine three sectors, namely, skills, technical and academic.

Beginning this year, higher education institutions will be accredited based on their performance, track record and financial performance. Also, MQA will show on its official portal the list of partially accredited and fully accredited courses, and courses that have been rejected. Previously, MQA only listed the courses that have been approved by Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Akreditasi (MJA). According to Prof Rujhan, it is hoped that this initiative would enable students to make a better and more informed choice.

Prof Rujhan advised students and parents to refer to the Malaysian Qualifications Register (MQR) to ensure the programme and higher education institution they are interested in have been accredited by the government. The MQR can be viewed at www.mqa.gov.my. Currently, there are more than 11,300 programmes accredited by MQA.

Students or parents who have questions or complaints about the accreditation of a course can contact MQA directly.

Sources for this article include:

Meor Ahmad Nasriin Rizal Ishak. “MQA atur langkah capai sasaran 2017.” Berita Harian 26 January 2017
Rajaendram, Rebecca. “Check courses with MQA.” The Star 5 February 2017