Page 28 - AEI Insights Vol. 7 2021

AEI Insights, Vol 7, Issue 1, 2021

education hub may not survive because everything is related to business” as stated by an expert
in higher education internationalisation and former Director-General of DHE.

Academic qualification recognition
Academic and qualification recognition was observed as the fifth theme that contributes to
enhancing the internationalisation of Malaysian higher education. Mutual recognition of
academic qualifications between countries is very important for Malaysian graduates to work
freely in other countries. Therefore, “we want other countries to accept Malaysian students”
as mentioned by a senior officer of the DHE and this can be done by having mutual recognition
between Asian and European countries through the AEP initiatives such as the ASEM Bridging
Recognition Declaration. Nevertheless, a senior director of an agency under MOHE claimed
that currently, mutual recognition is discussed and implemented through bilateral
arrangements. Hence, the same director added that “through the AEP network, Malaysia can
find other countries in ASEM to work with Malaysian qualifications agency on quality
assurance matters”. This will ensure Malaysian higher education institutions curriculum are
recognised worldwide and achieve global standards. An officer of a top research university
also mentioned that their institution has very strict procedures to meet the quality assurance
standard.

Thirty European countries are members of ASEM and have harmonised their higher education
qualifications recognition by adopting the Bologna Process endorsed in 1999. Although
Malaysia is a member of the ASEAN Quality Assurance Network (AQAN), a respondent from
a strategic planning division of MOHE said that it is very challenging to harmonise the ASEAN
qualifications recognition with Bologna Process because “in ASEAN there are various
languages or medium of instruction and different development stages of quality assurance and
frameworks, so getting common reference framework is remain big challenges”. However, a
senior expert of internationalisation believes that the Malaysian Qualifications Agency has
reached regional and international standards and it can contribute to the development of
qualifications assurance and recognition in other ASEM partner countries. This statement is
supported by a senior director of an agency under MOHE who stated that Malaysia has
participated in qualifications recognition initiatives under the AEP, namely the ASEM
Bridging Recognition Declaration. This initiative provides a platform for Malaysia to learn and
share best practices to harmonise higher education qualifications recognition through the AEP.

Continuing and professional education

The final theme endorsed by interviewees was continuing and professional education. The
interview results showed that in terms of Technical and Vocational Education and Training
(TVET) and Lifelong Learning (LLL), Malaysia can learn from Europe to develop and to
update existing policies on both fields. “Malaysia can work closely with Europe to enhance
our higher education system in TVET and LLL because they have a good system” according to
a senior director responsible for TVET and LLL at MOHE. Thus, an international expert on
internationalisation proposed that Malaysia should work closely with Europe through the AEP
to learn best practices of Europe to enhance continuing and professional education in Malaysia.
Nevertheless, whatever we learn from Europe “need to cater and mould with local demand
and culture” as stressed by a senior officer of the DHE.

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