MALAYSIAN EDUCATIONSYSTEM AND HIGHEREDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS
Khairul Salleh Bin Mohamed Sahari
Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Quality Assurance)
Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA)
khairulsalleh@mqa.gov.my

EDUCATIONLANDSCAPEEDUCATION& TRAININGLANDSCAPE

20 HEIs 105
36
403
Public Universities

HIGHEREDUCATIONLANDSCAPE

Polytechnics

Community Colleges

PrivateHEIs

59 Universities
10 Foreign BranchCampuses
33 University Colleges

TOP 10COUNTRIES OF
ORIGIN FOR
INTERNATIONALSTUDENTS IN
MALAYSIA

CHINA

28,593

INDONESIA

10,278BANGLADESH

6,656

PAKISTAN

4,466

NIGERIA

4,084

YEMEN

3,910

INDIA

3,569

SRI LANKA

2,432

EGYPT

2,320

IRAQ

2,145

National Education System• The Malaysian national education system can be divided into five stages namely
pre-school education, primary education, secondary education, post-secondary
education and tertiary education

National Education System

STPM/STAM
SPM

SVM

MALAYSIAN QUALIFICATIONS FRAMEWORK (MQF)

Benchmarked with ASEAN
Qualifications Reference
Framework (AQRF) (2019)

The Framework provides a set of levels and descriptors covering all sectors, which uses the set of levels andoutcomes with the intention to bring progression and pathways together and accommodate all forms of learning.

4ENROLMENT INTO HEIs
There are different entry requirements for enrolment into different higher education
programmes.
- Foundation / Matriculation / Certificate / Diploma (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia or any
equivalent (10/11 years secondary education certificate)- Bachelor Degree (Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia or equivalent (12/13 years secondary
education certificate), Foundation, Matriculation, Diploma)

1

Generally there is no requirement for student to sit for any entrance exam forenrolment into higher education. However, for Malaysian students who wishes
to enroll into public universities and institutions, they have to apply through
UPU Online

2

3

MQA has published the list of entry qualification for international qualification. If thequalifications is not listed in the website. MQA offer the service of equivalency evaluation
for secondary and tertiary level to help qualification holders determine which level ofstudy they can apply for.

UPU ONLINE: INSTITUTIONS INVOLVED

4UPU ONLINE: ENTRY REQUIREMENTS (SPM)

4UPU ONLINE: ENTRY REQUIREMENTS (STPM)

4

UPU ONLINE: MERIT POINTS CALCULATION (STPM)

4

UPU ONLINE: MERIT POINTS CALCULATION (STPM)

4

UPU ONLINE: COMPETITIVE FIELD

4

National Education Code (NEC)➢ All higher education programmes offered in Malaysia will be assigned with a code from the
National Education Code (NEC)➢ The latest version is released in 2021
➢ https://www.mohe.gov.my/muat-turun/penerbitan-jurnal-dan-laporan/nec-2020/583national-education-code-2020-nec-2020/file4

UPU ONLINE: 5-YEAR AVERAGE MERIT POINTS (SPM)

4UPU ONLINE: 5-YEAR AVERAGE MERIT POINTS (STPM)

4

Registration as Private College
Private Higher Educational Institutions Act 1996 (Act 555)

Section24. (1)
Every private college has to beregistered

Section

24A. (1)
Private college must renew its
registration at least 6 months
before the current registration
expiresPROCESS FLOW FOR OFFERING NEW PROGRAMMES IN
PRIVATE COLLEGES
Private college applies for Provisional Accreditation (PA) from MQA(Audit: MQA / JTC (Professional bodies)
Private college successfully obtained PA from MQA?
Private college applies for new permit/license using e-IPTS system
Private college can advertise and recruit students
Private college applies for Full Accreditation (FA) when first cohort of students enters final year/
semester*Private college successfully obtained FA from MQA?
Private college applies for renewal of permit/license using e-IPTS system

MODELS OF HIGHER EDUCATION PROGRAMMES IN
PRIVATE COLLEGESPARTIAL PROGRAMMEFULL PROGRAMMENational Quality Assurance System for Education and Training••

The quality system of educationand training in Malaysia is the
responsibility of many agencies
with different but interconnected
and complementary functions.
The functions include, among
others, regulatory functions,
quality assurance (QA) functions
and qualification recognition
functions•••

Ministry of Higher Education
Ministry of Human Resources

Malaysian Qualifications Agency
Department of Skills Development
Professional Bodies

PREAMBLE
MQA ACTLAWS OF MALAYSIA

Malaysian Qualifications Agency Act 2007
An Act to establish the Malaysian Qualifications Agency atthenational
body
toimplement
the
Malaysian
Qualifications Framework (MQF)
to accredit higher
educational programmes and qualifications to supervise andregulate the quality and standard of higher education
providers, to establish and maintain the Malaysian
Qualifications Register (MQR) and to provide for related
mattersMQA

STRUCTURE

1

MQA is a statutory body under the Ministryof Higher Education

MQA Council is chaired by a non-executive
Chairman, with 17 members

3

The Agency is led by the Chief Executive
Officer (CEO)Two (2) Accreditation Committees[Sciences and Arts & Humanities]

5

2

4

Other Committees[Institutional Audit & Equivalency]

LEGISLATION:
Malaysian Qualifications Agency Act 2007 (Act 679)

Private Higher Educational Institutions Act 1996 (Act 555)
➢ The Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) deals with the licensing and the establishment oftransnational arrangements.

➢ All TNE programmes offered by foreign branch campuses or offered under franchisearrangement with local partners need to acquire and maintain MQA accreditation as a
pre-requisite for MoHE’s approval of programme offering as well as its renewal.

QUALITY ASSURANCE DOCUMENTSAPEL for Qualification
APEL for Credit Award
APEL

Hospitality and Tourism
ACCOUNTINGWork Based Learning
Micro-credentials
ADVISORYNOTES MQA-------------------------------------------

CIRCULARSOF MOHE-------------------------------------------

LAW & SYARIAH LAW

Traditional and Complementary Medicine
Halal Studies

Creative Multimedia

Performing Arts Muamalat And Islamic Finance
CIRCULARSOF MQA-------------------------------------------

Psychology Medical & Health Sciences
Media & Communication Studies
STANDARDSPRESCRIBED BY
OTHER
ACCREDITATIONAGENCIESQUALITY ASSURANCE DOCUMENTS

Monitoring of Accreditation Conditions (as per specified time period) and FA Compliance Audit Every 3-5 years

RECOGNITIONOFQUALIFICATIONSMALAYSIAN QUALIFICATIONS REGISTER (MQR)
Lists all programmes that have attained Full
Accreditation status since 2007 including programmesthat are no longer active
Accessible at: https://www2.mqa.gov.my/mqr/

PROVISIONAL ACCREDITATION REGISTER
Lists all programmes that have attained
Provisional Accreditation status
Accessible at:https://www2.mqa.gov.my/pasp/

EQUIVALENCY EVALUATION
Secondary
Qualification❑ Qualification with a minimum of 12 years of education is equivalentand eligible for entry to Level 6 MQF (Bachelor's Degree);❑ Qualifications with less than 12 years of schooling (but not less than
10 years of education) and the exit qualification in the country oforigin can be used as an entry qualification for Foundation, Level 3
MQF (Certificate) or Level 4 MQF (Diploma)

Tertiary
Qualification❑ MQA conducts equivalency evaluation of foreign tertiary
qualification for entry to the MQF Level 3 to Level 8 program
offered by HEP in Malaysia❑ MQA schedule Equivalency Committee Meeting every quarterly.
The Committee will deliberate and endorse all equivalency
applications

RECOGNITION OF QUALIFICATIONS▪ Recognition of qualifications is based on data/informationfrom the country of origin▪ MQA uses similar principles with other countries onprocess of recognition of qualifications▪ MQA works closely with Education Malaysia offices
abroad to obtain information related to a particularqualification or university▪ MQA checks for recognition of foreign tertiary
qualification from certificate until doctoral degree▪ Equivalency for public service is also provided for
Malaysian applicants▪ Until 1st October 2023, 370 qualifications have been
evaluated and confirmed their recognition.
▪ All applications for recognition of qualifications will betabled at the periodic meetings between MQA and publicrecruitment authorities.
▪ For further information, please visit:https://www.mqa.gov.my/new/recognition.cfm#gsc.tab=0

MQA’S DEFINITION OF MICRO-CREDENTIALSDefinition“... [WHAT] digital certification of assessedknowledge, skills and competencies in a [SCOPE]
specific area or field which [DESIGN] can be acomponent of accredited programme or stand-alone
courses supporting [PURPOSE] the professional,
technical, academic and personal development of thelearners”
Source: Malaysian Qualifications Agency (2020) Guidelines to Good Practices : Micro-credentials

46

TYPES OF MICRO-CREDENTIALSMicro-credentials from unbundling of accredited
programmes of HEP

1
Same
Module/subjects

2

Same
Title

Same/
equivalent
Assessments

Same
Credits

Stand-Alone Micro-Credentials

As necessary orneeded by thetarget group

Can be creative but
always reflective ofcontent & outcomes

FOR TRAINING PURPOSE ONLY

Maximum design
autonomy

No formal credits
assigned but
learning hours arestated47

01

MALAYSIAN MICRO-CREDENTIALSSTATEMENTOUTCOME BASED02
MQA VERIFIEDMICROCREDENTIALSCREDIT BEARING BASEDON STUDENT ACADEMIC
LOAD

03

04
05

Minimum - 40 hours ofnotional learning time

MODE OF DELIVERYASSESSMENT ALIGNEDTO LEARNINGOUTCOMESMQF LEVEL48

MC – THE DIGITAL CERT OR BADGE OR STATEMENT

EU, 2021

49

MALAYSIAN QUALIFICATIONS FRAMEWORK& MICRO-CREDENTIALS (MC)▪ The Framework is applicable to “partial
qualifications” to support upgrading and upskilling
initiatives … as it may be accumulated and used toobtain full qualifications. However,
it is important that the learning outcomes and credits
are quality assured.
▪ The Framework facilitates assessment for equivalency and/or provide/support
the formal recognition of professional certifications by industry and othernon-formal training providers, through new and emerging delivery systems(such as Badges, MOOCs, Nano and Micro degrees) as long as…
comply with the Framework’s learning outcomes, assessment cultures andexpectations.

PATHWAYS TO RECOGNITION OF MC*HEP: Higher Education Provider*AP: Alternative Provider

13

Conventional formal learning track

Module …. n

Module 5

Module 4

Module 3

Module 2

Module 1

Conventional formal learning track with
APEL.M

ENTRY INTO ACADEMIC PROGRAMME THROUGH APEL.M
Module …. n

Module k+2

Module k+1

Module k

Accumulated 50% ofcredit hours of the
programme throughmicro-credentials

APEL.A

APEL.M

Using prior experiential
learning to gain entry into
formal programmes

Using prior experiential
learning through microcredentials to gain entry into
formal programmes

52

SUMMARY: DEVELOPMENT OF GUIDELINES ON MC
1ST Phase2019

3rd Phase
2022

MQA Notification Letter
2/2019 dated 6 May 2019

Guidelines to Good Practices (GGP):
APEL.A and APEL.M
MQA Notification Letter 4/2023
dated 10 July 2023

MC in the form ofContinuous Professional
Development (CPD)

2nd Phase
2020
Guidelines to Good Practices:
Micro-credentials
MQA Notification Letter 8/2020 dated
10 August 2020
MC leading to formal academic
qualifications (This GGP revoked the
MQA Notification Letter 2/2019)

Fulfilment of admission
requirements leading to an
accredited programme via microcredentials track

4th Phase
2023
Guidelines to Good Practices:
Quality Verification of Standalone Micro-credentials
Instrumental in bringing all
short courses & noncredentialed courses under
the MQF

WAYFORWARD
GUIDELINES TO GOOD PRACTICES:QUALITY VERIFICATION OF STAND-ALONEMICRO-CREDENTIALS

Fulfilment of admission criteria:•

Verification
mechanism toestablish better
connection to MQF

Assessment align tolearning outcomes

MQF Level

GUIDELINES TO GOOD
PRACTICES (GGP):
APEL.A AND APEL.M •Credit bearing

System forApplication as
Verification
Centre & Learner

Established
Verification Centre

Micro-credentials
RegisterApplicable to any entities which include
authorized bodies, government agency,
higher education and training providers
and those legally registered with relevant
authorities

Micro-credentials Portal
launched on 3 June 2022
Database••••

Unbundled MC fromaccredited programme
SAMC
Verification Centre
SAMC Provider•

completed at least 50% of total credits ina programme via Micro-credentials which
are relevant to the accredited programme

2021 – 2025
(MQA Strategic Planning)

Meet the minimum age requirements as
stipulated in the APEL.A for the various
level of qualifications under the MQF
Meet the minimum age of graduation
stipulated in GGP: MC

specifically for learners who haveacquired at least 50% of the total credits
in a programme through Microcredentials
Conducted by APEL Assessment Centres

Learner’s Credit
Depository•

strengthen the support
system for the
implementation of
Micro-credentials•

increase publicconfidence on MC andfacilitate learners on
credit transfer leading
to the award ofacademic qualification

12

TRANSNATIONALEDUCATION

TYPES OF TNE IN MALAYSIA
Foreign Branch Campus - universities that have been invited by the Malaysian Government
to establish their off-shore campus in Malaysia.

Franchise Programme - Programme offered and conducted by a HEP but the curriculum isowned, and the award is conferred, by its partner (the awarding body). The arrangement
must be mutually agreed via MoA.
Programme under Certification Bodies (ACCA, CIMA, LCCI, ABE) – Programmes/qualifications
from a certification body that is approved by the authorities in the country of origin. Thisqualifications must undergo equivalency assessment.

ACCREDITATIONPROCESS

Joint Award – A collaborative programme developed by 2 (or more) equal standing HEPs
that will lead to an academic qualification, in which the scroll will state the name of the HEPs
involved.
Dual Degree - two programs of study from the same or almost the same fields involving
cooperation by two-degree granting institutions of equal standing and leading to theawarding of two scrolls by the institutions involved.
Double Degree - Students will follow 2 academic programmes of the same level in different
field of studies in the same institution or different institution, with greater volume of learning,and be awarded with 2 academic qualifications by the relevant institutions

NOTIFICATION TO
MOHE
MUST BE
ACCREDITED AND
RECOGNISEDPROGRAMMESCirculars and Policies (Inbound TNE)
• MOHE Circular 2/2017 [Updates
2018, 2019, 2020]• MQA Circular October 2017
Policies, requirements and criteria to
conduct franchise programmes.

MOHE Circular 2020

Guidelines for Implementation of
Joint Award, Dual Degree andDouble Degree• MOHE Circular 2021
• MQA Notification Letter 2021
Flexibility for Branch Campuses,
Franchise Programmes andCertification Programmes to meetthe certain requirements in the
MQA programme standards.

MAIN CRITERIA: The qualification and Home University must be recognized and accredited byrecognized authorities in their home country or under the jurisdiction of authorities recognized ascomparable to MQALIST OF REQUIREMENTS FOR INBOUND FRANCHISE PROGRAMMESMOHE Circular 2021
MQA Notification Letter 2021

No.

Requirements

Franchise
Programme

Branch Campuses

Cerification
Programmes

1.

Program yang hendak ditawarkan di PPT tempatan adalah
program yang diluluskan oleh Senat dan masih ditawarkan
di PPT induk.

Must Comply

Allowed to offer
unsimilar/different
programme but requires
approval from Main
Campus and subjected tothe establishment’s
conditions

Based on the
Equivalency
Assessment by
MQA

Must Comply

Allowed to offer
unsimilar/different
programme but requires
approval from Main
Campus and subjected tothe establishment’s
conditions

Based on the
Equivalency
Assessment by
MQA

Must Comply

Must Comply

Must Comply

The programme must be similar as offered and approvedby the Home University.
2.

Program mesti menggunakan penamaan (nomenclature)yang sama seperti mana di PPT induk.

The programme’s nomenclature must be the same as
offered at the Home University.

3.

Kredit bergraduat perlu memenuhi keperluan minimum
kredit bergraduat berdasarkan tahap kelayakan MQF
Total credits of the programme must meet the minimum
graduation credits based on the MQF level.

No.

Requirements

Franchise
Programme

Branch Campuses

Cerification
Programmes

4.

Tempoh penawaran perlu memenuhi tempoh minimum
yang ditetapkan oleh KPT atau seperti mana pelaksanaan di
PPT induk, yang mana lebih tinggi.

Must Comply

Must Comply

Must Comply

Must Comply

Must Comply

Must Comply

Must Comply

Must Comply

Must Comply

Must Comply

Must Comply

Based on the
Equivalency
Assessment by
MQA

The programme’s duration must meet the minimum
duration set by MOHE or Home University, whichever ishigher5.

Memenuhi hasil pembelajaran berdasarkan
kelayakan yang ditetapkan oleh MQF.

tahap

Must satisfy the required learning outcomes based on the
MQF level.
6.

Memenuhi hasil pembelajaran yang ditetapkan oleh bidang
program.
Must satisfy the required learning outcomes based on the
programmes’ field of study.

7.

Body of Knowledge (BoK) perlu mematuhi keperluan bidang
program yang mana rujukan juga boleh dibuat padastandard program yang berkaitan.
The programme’s content (Body of Knowledge, BoK) mustsatisfy the required field of study in which reference can bemade to the relevant MQA programme standards.

No.

Requirements

Franchise
Programme

Branch Campuses

Cerification
Programmes

8.

Penilaian pelajar perlu mematuhi keperluan bidang
program.

Must Comply

Must Comply

Based on the
Equivalency
Assessment by
MQA

Must Comply

Must Comply

Must Comply

Must Comply

Must Comply

Based on theapproved
curriculum as per
MQA’s Equivalency
Assessment

Assessment of students must meet the required field of
study

9.

Mata Pelajaran Pengajian Umum (MPU) wajib ditawarkanseperti mana yang ditetapkan oleh KPT.
Mata Pelajaran Pengajian Umum (MPU) (MOHE
compulsory modules) must be included in the programme.

10.

Latihan industri wajib ditawarkan seperti mana yangditetapkan dalam standard program MQA. Pengecualian
kepada latihan industri boleh dipertimbangkan bagi aktiviti
pengajaran dan pembelajaran kursus yang melibatkan
industri.

Internship/Practical Training must be offered as stipulated
in the MQA’s Programme Standards. Exemption may beconsidered if teaching and learning involves industrial
exposure.

No.

Requirements

Franchise
Programme

Branch Campuses

Cerification
Programmes

11.

Pendedahan kepada elemen atau topik tempatan diambil
kira dalam pelaksanaan program.

Must Comply

Must Comply

Must Comply

Must Comply

Must Comply

Must Comply

Local elements/topics must be taken into account in the
programme implementation.
12.

Memenuhi kelayakan masuk minimum yang ditetapkan
oleh KPT atau standard program atau seperti mana
pelaksanaan di PPT Induk, yang mana lebih tinggi.
Entry requirements must follow the minimum requirements
set by MOHE, or MQA’s Programme Standards, or as per
implementation at the Home University.

TNE IN MALAYSIA (INBOUND)FRANCHISE PROGRAMMESFOREIGN BRANCH CAMPUSES
BIL

1.

2.

COUNTRY

AUSTRALIAUK

HEP

NUMBER OF
PROGRAMMES
PA

FA*Monash University

1

13*Swinburne University

1

20*Curtin University

1

12*The University of Nottingham

113

Heriot Watt University

54

37

University of Southampton

22

7

Newcastle University

4

4

The University of Reading

3

11

3.

CHINA

Xiamen University

21

18

4.

SINGAPORE

Raffles University

22

16

PA

FA

HEPs

92

54

PROGRAMMES

329

211

CERTIFICATION PROGRAMMES (ACCA, CIMA etc.)
PA

FA

HEPs

23

14

PROGRAMMES

27

16

JOINT AWARD e.g.:
Master of Engineering Technology (Green and Energy Efficient
Buildings) joint award between Universiti Kuala Lumpur andUniversity of Applied Sciences Rosenheim (UAS RO), Germany
Bachelor of Psychological Science (Hons) Joint Degree with
Flinders University / Bachelor of Psychological Science Joint
Degree with Flinders University [HEP: HELP University]*Self-accrediting HEPsCirculars and Policies (Outbound TNE)MQA Circular 1/2016
Compliance
Auditsforprogrammes offered at Offshore
Campuses and Regional Centres(ODL programmes)
Local HEPs are responsible to:✓ Inform MQA✓ Obtain approval from thesignificant authorities of thecountries

MOHE Circular 2/2017
MQA Circular 5/2018
MOHE Guidelines 2021

Policies for
franchisor

local

HEPs

as

✓ Accredited programme (andat least 3 cohort of students
have graduated)✓ Conventional programme✓ Awarded by local HEPs
✓ Must notify MQA

CRITERIA FOR LOCAL HEPs AS
FRANCHISOR:
i. For University/ University
College status, must achieve
minimum Tier 4 in SETARA
ii. For College status, mustachieve minimum 5 star in
MyQUESTiii. The program approval and
HEPs registration with MOHE
are still valid.

SETARA: rigorous assessment methodology to rate
an education institution’s three core functions,
namely teaching, research and services
MyQUEST: Malaysian Quality Evaluation System forPrivate Colleges is an instrument to evaluate theperformance of private higher education institutionsof college status in Malaysia.

TNE IN MALAYSIA (OUTBOUND)
StatusNumber of Countries

Number of Programmes

Franchise programmes
by local HEPs

6

10

Offshore campuses

640

Regional centres

14

77

OTHERSMQA Advisory Note on usage of Generative AI in HE
The advisory note provides guidelines to
educators, students and institutions on how to
use Generative AI responsibly and ethically

https://www.mqa.gov.my/pv4/document/2023/edited/MQA%20Advisory%
20Note%20No.22023-%20AI%20Generatif.pdf

66

REFERENCING TO AQRF

The Malaysian AQRF Referencing Report is available on thefollowing websites:•

The Official Portal of the Malaysian Qualifications Agency(MQA) at http://www2.mqa.gov.my/myaqrf/•

ASEAN Official Website at https://asean.org/aseaneconomic-community/sectoral-bodies-under-the-purview-ofaem/services/asean-qualifications-reference-framework/

REFERENCES
Ministry of Education, Malaysia
Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia
Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia
Malaysian Qualifications Agency
ASEM Education: https://asem-education.org/compendiums/200-malaysia/