Flexible system makes it easier to earn that degree

SHAH ALAM: Starting Tuesday, the Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) and Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) will be given due recognition by the Higher Education Ministry in a bid to improve tertiary education in the country.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said the move will allow students to transfer credits using their job experiences and online courses they have taken to pave an easier path on the journey to getting a degree or maybe, two.

“The best lecturer may not be in university, but could be in the industry instead.

“Malaysia should not have an education system that is too rigid, conservative and shallow,” he said yesterday, adding that the move was in line with the ministry’s attempt to adopt a flexible education system.

Speaking at the Management and Science University (MSU) after the first roadshow of “Program Soaring Upwards: Let’s Talk Higher Education”, the second version of the Soaring Upwards programme that was launched last year, Idris said the country’s education system is slowly but surely becoming more technology-based.

He said Soaring Upwards 2.0 is being used to inform Malaysians of the most recent changes that are currently happening in the country’s higher education system.

“Changes take time, and though they do not seem significant now, I promise to build the best education system with high quality that can be compared to those around the world,” he added.

He hoped the new and improved programme would increase the people’s awareness that the system here is constantly developing and improving.

“Our country has quite a high-quality higher education system. It was mentioned in the recent Asean Education conference that Malaysia has a dynamic system,” Idris said.

With the changes, he hoped students who study locally could excel in whatever they are majoring in, boosting their employability, self confidence and also increase their communication skills, among other things.

MSU president Professor Tan Sri Datuk Wira Dr Mohd Shukri Ab Yajid said the Soaring Upwards concept could help the younger generation to “soar to greater heights”.

Three more “Program Soaring Upwards: Let’s Talk Higher Education” roadshows will be conducted throughout the remainder of the year.

They will be held in Sabah (next month), Kuala Lumpur (November) and Johor (December).