CYBERJAYA: Seize the opportunity to offer short, micro-credential programmes to churn out talents for the job market.
This is the call to local institutions of higher learning (IPT) by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA).
MQA chief executive officer Prof Datuk Dr Mohammad Shatar Sabran urged IPTs to implement such initiatives for the working class to succeed in the lifelong learning agenda (PSH), besides increasing the income of their respective institutions.
"The offering of micro-credentials has become a global education trend, especially among employees who want to improve their competencies in specific fields.
"In the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR4.0), employers are more likely to choose those who have good skills and competencies in a job.
"Thus, micro-credentials play a role in providing added value to employees to remain relevant in their careers," he said.
Shatar added that learning systems that supported the PSH agenda often announced by the Ministry of Higher Education, provided solutions to professionals who faced time constraints in any field, to increase their level of efficiency and expertise.
"We must accept the reality that micro-credentials and online learning are the new norms of education today, that can help the nation's sustainability in producing a competitive workforce," he said at the 'MQA@IPTS Tour Session' roadshow at UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur.
Pesent were UCSI Group founder Datuk Peter Ng; UCSI University Group vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Ir Ts Dr Siti Hamisah Tapsir; UCSI University deputy vice-chancellor (academic and internationalisation for the Kuala Lumpur Campus) Prof Datuk Dr Rohana Yusof; UCSI Group vice-president (government relations) Datuk Professor Ir Dr Mohd Rizon Mohamed Juhari; MQA senior director (policy and expertise development) Mohamad Dzafir Mustafa and MQA senior director (accreditation) Lilian Kek Siew Yick.
The roadshow was one of MQA's focused programmes to exchange views directly with IPTs in the context of quality assurance of higher education, as well as promote PSH initiatives such as Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning systems and micro-credentials.
It is also to encourage more IPTs to become APEL assessment centres.
Meanwhile, Siti Hamisah said MQA's micro-credential guidelines and good practices enabled UCSI to provide flexible education by unbundling accredited programmes for local and international students to register and study at their convenience.
She said UCSI had incorporated the IR 4.0 element into all academic programmes by providing a holistic education using advanced digital technology to gain access to high-quality education.
"We have trained our lecturers and students to adapt to the new norms and prepare for the work environment of the future," she said.