Curtin Sarawak retains excellent rating under SETARA

Miri – 5 November 2012 – Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) has retained its ‘Tier 5’ or ‘excellent’ rating under the latest Rating System for Malaysian Higher Education Institutions or Sistem Penarafan Institusi Pengajian Tinggi (SETARA ‘11).

Curtin Sarawak achieved a similar rating in the last SETARA rating exercise carried out by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA), an agency under the Ministry of Higher Education, in 2009.

Curtin Sarawak is one of 35 institutions of higher learning (IPT) rated as ‘Tier 5’ or ‘excellent’ under SETARA ’11. Of the 35 institutions, 22 are private universities and university colleges (IPTS) and the remainder are public universities (IPTA).

“We are obviously elated at achieving an ‘excellent’ rating once again. It reaffirms our reputation as a leading higher education institution in Malaysia,” said its Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, Professor Ian Kerr.

He added that the rating, along with Curtin Sarawak’s self-accreditation status granted by the Ministry of Higher Education in 2009, is testimony to the quality and excellence of Curtin Sarawak’s teaching and learning, academic programmes, research output and staff calibre, as well as to the quality of its graduates and their employability.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin announced on 31 October 2012 that, while 13 IPTA and 22 IPTS achieved ‘excellent’ ratings, no university or university college achieved the ‘outstanding’ rating, which is the highest level in SETARA; nor was any awarded a ‘satisfactory’ or ‘weak’ rating.

He said that the objective of SETARA was to raise the quality, integrity and prestige of universities and university colleges in Malaysia and that the findings from this exercise would be used by the Higher Education Ministry in the formulation of policies for higher education.

SETARA ’11 is the third ranking exercise carried out by the Ministry of Higher Education after the first in 2007 and the second in 2009. This latest exercise includes IPT engaged in open and long-distance learning.

Its rating mechanism used a total of 26 criteria captured through 62 indicators covering the three generic dimensions of input, process and output to assess the quality of teaching and learning.

The input dimension addressed talent, resources and governance; the process dimension focused on curriculum; and the output dimension covered the quality of graduates. The ratings were classified into six tiers, ranging from ‘Tier 1’ (‘weak’) to ‘Tier 6’ (‘outstanding’).

“We note that no institution managed to get the highest classification of ‘Tier 6’, which certainly gives us something to work towards in the next SETARA exercise,” said Professor Kerr, adding that, apart from giving education providers a clear picture of their standing, the SETARA results can be used as a basis to further enhance their standing.

According to Professor Kerr, Curtin University’s new vision is to be an international leader shaping the future through its graduates and research and to be among the top 20 universities in Asia by 2020.

He said Curtin Sarawak’s achievement of a ‘Tier 5’ rating again clearly showed that the university was on the right track and that it would continue strengthening its quality management system to further enhance its programmes, operations and services, and ultimately produce graduates who are highly sought after.

“It is Curtin’s mission to remain committed to innovation and excellence in teaching and research for the benefit of its students and wider community, and this SETARA recognition brings us one step closer to achieving that goal,” he added.

Curtin Sarawak, one of 35 IPT rated as ‘Tier 5’ or ‘excellent’ under SETARA ’11.

Rating reaffirms Curtin Sarawak’s reputation as a leading higher education institution in Malaysia, says Professor Ian Kerr.