Curtin Malaysia to continue being a self-accrediting higher learning institution

Miri – 27 March 2017 – Curtin University, Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia), the largest international campus of Curtin University here in Malaysia, is pleased that the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) through the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) has maintained the self-accreditation status it awarded to Curtin Malaysia in 2010.

Curtin Malaysia Pro Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Jim Mienczakowski said the granting of self-accreditation status by MOHE is an endorsement of the high quality Curtin Malaysia offers in a range of areas, particularly its programmes, but also its maturity and credibility as a leading higher learning institution in Malaysia and its expanding role as Curtin’s education and research hub in the region.

“It is testimony of the quality of our programmes, teaching and research, and the calibre of our graduates and their employability. It is also an accreditation of our internal quality mechanisms, with all the processes and procedures for quality assurance,” remarked Professor Mienczakowski, adding that the self-accreditation status was renewed following rigorous institutional audits by auditors appointed by the MQA throughout 2015 and 2016.

He said Curtin Malaysia is committed to continual quality enhancement and has been very successful in the process of educating students within the framework of Curtin’s quality management system over the years.

Curtin Malaysia offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in engineering, science, business and humanities that are identical to those offered by its Australian parent in Perth. In addition, degrees earned at Curtin Malaysia are awarded directly by the main campus.

It also offers students an undifferentiated learning experience and Curtin student support mechanisms such online study resources and bi-directional delivery of course material between the Curtin campuses.

Curtin Malaysia was among the first eight higher learning institutions (IPT) granted self-accreditation status in 2010, and as of January this year, nine held self-accreditation status, including five public universities and four international university branch campuses. This number has been increased to 17 with the inclusion of another eight higher learning institutions this year.

Self-accreditation status is awarded to higher education providers (HEP) that have proven to have solid and stable internal quality assurance systems and is re-evaluated every five years. It entitles HEPs to self-accredit their programmes through their internal quality assurance systems guided by the Malaysian Qualifications Framework (MQF) as well as relevant standards and policies of MQA and MOHE.

Adding to Professor Mienczakowski’s comments, Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Beena Giridharan said the renewal of self-accreditation status reinforces Curtin Malaysia’s achievement in the Malaysian Higher Education Institution Rating System (SETARA) in which it was awarded a Tier 5 or ‘Excellent’ rating by MQA. It also has a Tier 5 rating in the discipline-based D-SETARA rating system for its engineering programmes.

Professor Giridharan received Curtin Malaysia’s Certificate of Self-Accreditation from Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh at a certificate presentation ceremony in Putrajaya on 20 March 2017.

Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh (seventh from left) posing for a group photo with representatives from the original eight universities. With them are, fifth from left onwards: Higher Education Ministry director-general Datin Dr Siti Hamisah Tapsir and secretary-general Tan Sri Dr Noorul Ainur Mohd Nur, MQA chairman Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Abu Hassan Othman and chief executive officer Prof Datuk Dr Rujhan Mustafa (fifth from right). Professor Giridharan is fourth from right.

Professor Jim Mienczakowski: Self-accreditation status an endorsement of the high quality Curtin Malaysia offers in a range of areas, particularly in its programmes.