Index-Rated Private Varsities From 2011

PUTRAJAYA: By the year 2011, prospective students can check on the standing of private universities and university-colleges before enrolling.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said it would be compulsory for all institutions of higher education to participate in the Rating System for Malaysian Higher Education Institutions (Setara) programme next year.

“When I say next year, it means the results will be out the year after,” he said.

He added that some institutions were already voluntarily taking part in the programme this year and the results would be out next year.

“Courses should be under the framework of our Malaysian Qualification Agency, so that the courses offered are really of quality.

“If their courses are not under the framework by next year, they will not be allowed to take in foreign students,” he said, adding that the institutions have been reminded to only allow qualified students to be enrolled.

He added that if their students were not up to mark, this would have an effect on their Setara index and affect the university’s reputation.

Khaled said he was going to take a “total re-look” at institutions of higher education “to make sure that when we transform our public universities, they are not far behind.”

He said the Setara index would be used as a guide by students before enrolling in a particular university.

“We’ve no choice but to concentrate on quality. We want Malaysia to be a hub of higher education. We want first-class mentality students,” he said.

Adapted from The Star Online, 23/09/2009