After getting your Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) results, most of us would embark on furthering our studies.
By then, you would have thought thoroughly on the course of your future, as this would carve the way into your dream career.
However, before you enrol into any educational institution, it’s important to make sure you know what course you want to take and research the educational institution to ensure it fits your needs. Aside from taking a campus tour or speaking to the people there, the other important thing to consider is if the course of study you are deciding to take is accredited.
There are many education providers out there with numerous courses for you to take. The offers are aplenty and it seems like the world is your oyster.
If the course isn’t accredited though, it could pose a problem. It’s therefore very important to ensure the course you intend to take is indeed accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA).
1. What does it mean for courses to get accreditation from MQA? Accreditation from the MQA means that the course you’ve chosen, be it a diploma, certificate, or degree programme has received formal recognition and is up to the quality standards and criteria set by MQA and has complied with the Malaysian Qualifications Framework (MQF).
2. Why is it important for courses to have accreditation from MQA? If your course is accredited, you will be able to apply for study loans from funding agencies such as the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN).
If your course is accredited, you would be able to continue your studies in higher education institutions and obtain credit transfers. Do take note that these credit transfers are subject to acceptance with the institutions involved so check with the admissions office to see if credit transfers are accepted.
If your course is accredited, you can be considered for employment in the public sector and in many cases private sector employers will also prefer accredited programmes in their selection of candidates for employment.
Hopefully, now you understand the importance of accreditation, you will make sure to enquire if it’s MQA accredited before you choose your course.
This article was contributed by SEGi College Sarawak course counsellor Farrick Nizam.
This is a weekly column by SarawakYES! – an initiative driven by Faradale Media-M Sdn Bhd and supported by Angkatan Zaman Mansang (AZAM) Sarawak – to provide advice and stories on the topics of education and careers to support Sarawakians seeking to achieve their dreams. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
This article first appeared on The Borneo Post, visit this link: http://bit.ly/1TU0jVI
