MQA allows for flexible education

Two sets of guidelines by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency will provide support and enable Malaysians to have better access to flexible and lifelong education.

The guidelines are for the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning Credit Award - APEL (C), and for the Credit Transfer for MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses). These guidelines will allow individuals with work experience and various short course qualifications to match their experience for a credit transfer in the academic field they wish to pursue in higher learning institutions. The aim is to allow those individuals to shorten the duration of their courses.

Minister of Higher Education Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said the ministry understands the importance of flexible education and they intend to realise it by allowing individuals without academic experience, but with work experience, to earn their university qualifications.

"APEL (C) encompasses assessment on prior learning experiences (non-formal and informal) for the purpose of awarding credits. This includes learning through MOOC and other self-learning methods in the Malaysian Qualifications Framework (MQF).

"With the earlier implementation APEL (A - Admission) which provides opportunity for individuals with working experience to pursue their studies, APEL (C) acknowledges those experiences by excluding individuals from subjects they have proof competent," he said.

Students who have registered at higher learning institutions through regular routes or through APEL (A) can consult with their respective institutions for assessment and possible credit transfers. Universities and other higher learning institutions are required to obtain MQA's approval before implementing the APEL (C) guidelines.

According to MQA, there are only 4 institutions at this point of time with permission to implement APEL (C): Open University Malaysia (OUM), Wawasan Open University (WOU), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) and INTI International University.

These guidelines are aligned with the nation's Education Blueprint 2015-2025.

According to Idris, the advancement in technology is changing the educational landscape. It is no longer about formal or informal education, but it has moved on to flexible education. Online education in Malaysia has been placed within the Blueprint, which is aimed at reducing the cost of education, providing quality learning, globalising Malaysian expertise and promoting lifelong learning among Malaysians.

The minister has also invited higher learning institutions to collaborate in the development of the MOOC and to set the proper mechanisms for recognition of learning through MOOC.