UPSI to offer TVET grads chance to further studies
KUALA LUMPUR: Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) has emerged as the first public university to offer technical and vocational education and training (TVET) graduates the opportunity to continue their studies.
UPSI Vice-Chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Mohammad Shatar Sabran said the first cohort had registered early this month, involving 20 vocational college and skills training public institutes.
He said to create more flexibility with regard to entrance opportunities while meeting quality standards set by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA), UPSI is opening the door to TVET students who obtain a Malaysia Vocational Diploma (DVM) and Malaysian Skills Diploma (DKM) with an overall minimum GPA of 3.66 at Malaysian Vocational Certificate (SVM) level.
“Those who fail to meet the minimum requirements, such as the History subject, can sit for the paper on their own or take the subject, equivalent to the SPM.
“TVET graduates who wish to continue their studies in UPSI have to pass the Malaysian University English Test (MUET) at Band 3 to graduate, pass the Malaysian Educators Selection Inventory (MedSi) test, as well as an interview,” he said.
Previously, vocational college students had to have a two-year working experience to obtain the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) certificate from MQA to enable them to continue their studies for a bachelor’s degree.
UPSI’s offer opens the door to more opportunities to vocational college students to continue their studies at degree level without having to possess an APEL certificate, but meet SVM requirements.
The move is in line with the establishment of UPSI’s Technical and Vocational Faculty campus in Teluk Intan in 2019.
He said for the first cohort, the learning opportunity covered Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Science, Home Economics, Design and Technology, as well as Human Resources Management.
For diploma level, there is a minimum 2.5 CGPA requirement, which is on par with Level 4 of the Malaysian qualifications framework, as well as meet other requirements, such as a pass in Bahasa Melayu, and a pass or credit in History at SPM level.