Malaysian Qualifications Agency

14th Floor, Block B, Menara PKNS-PJ

No. 17, Jalan Yong Shook Lin
46050 Petaling Jaya
Selangor Darul Ehsan

Tel

+603-7968 7002

Fax

+603-7956 9496

Email

[email protected]

Website

www.mqa.gov.my

Malaysian Qualifications Agency 2014

ISBN:
All the Agencys publications are available on our website: www.mqa.gov.my

Printed copies are available from:

The Standards Division
Malaysian Qualifications Agency

CONTENTS
Preface

Glossary

ii

Abbreviations

vii

1.

INTRODUCTION

2.

PROGRAMME AIMS

15

3.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

23

4.

CURRICULUM DESIGN AND DELIVERY

29

5.

ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT LEARNING

42

6.

STUDENT SELECTION

48

7.

ACADEMIC STAFF

52

8.

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

56

9.

PROGRAMME MONITORING AND REVIEW

65

10. LEADERSHIP, GOVERNANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

68

11. CONTINUAL QUALITY IMPROVEMENT

73

Conclusion

77

Reference

81

Panel of Experts

84

Appendixes
Appendix 1 - Sample of Existing Nomenclatures

85

Appendix 2 - Comparison of Quality Control and Quality Enhancement

89

Appendix 3 - Flow Chart of Dimensions of Programme Standards in

90

Education
Appendix 4 - Conceptualization Framework of Education Programme

91

Standards
Appendix 5 - School Subjects in Malaysia by Levels

93

Appendix 6 - Areas of Study in Educational programmes

95

Appendix 7 - A Note on Credit Hours

101

Appendix 8 - Four Stages for Effective Curriculum Delivery

103

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

PREFACE

GLOSSARY
No.

Terms

1.

Accreditation
Prior

Description
of

Learning

(APL)

The

official

recognition

of

cumulative

learning

experiences and acceptance of such experiences as

valid and meeting and fulfilling requirements for
particular levels and specific Educational Programmes,
for instance a Bachelor or a Master degree requirement.
APL encompasses and goes beyond Credit Transfer or
Exemptions. While there are differences, APL is also
sometimes termed Accreditation of Prior Experiential
Learning (APEL), or Recognition of Prior Learning
(RPL), and Recognition or Accreditation of Prior Work
Experience (APWE). The qualifications are conferred
upon the completion of education or formal training,
which can include or relevant to the field of education.

2.

Adequate

Educational resources are described as adequate

Educational

when it is sufficient and as good as is necessary to fulfill

Resources

the

requirements

of

the

Programme

Blended Learning

Refers to a mixing of different kinds of learning

environments. The terms "blended," "hybrid," and
"mixed-mode" are used interchangeably in current
research literature.

4.

Blended

Learning

Approach

An integrated instructional approach that combines

face-to-face

classroom

methods,

whether

digitally

immediate or remote (usually internet-based and

technology-mediated) learning.
5.

Childcare centre

A place (in institution, workplace, community or the

(TASKA)

home) where children below 4 years of age receive

alternative care provided by childcare providers.

6.

Community Driven

Refer to with more and more people getting educated

Knowledge

and being digitalised, the generation of information by

Creation

community of practice and communities themselves are

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

Education (PSE).
3.

ii

Standards:

No.

Terms

Description
showing trend of community driven knowledge creation.
The

information

and

knowledge

that

inhere

in

communities that is shared in the networks is much

greater then what governments or companies can
gather by themselves.

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

7.

iii

Credit

quantitative

measurement

that

represents

that

learning volume or the academic load to achieve the

respective learning outcomes.
8.

9.

Criteria

and

The expected levels of attainment which serve as

Standards

performance indicators.

Discipline Core

Specific modules to a specific discipline of Education

identified by this Education Programme Standards.

10. Educators

Educators are professionals in the education sector

including

teachers,

lecturers,

counsellors,

administrators, et cet tera.

11. Good Practices

A set of internationally accepted standards, which are

expected to be fulfilled to maintain a high quality of
education. Best practices is also commonly used to
refer to good, mature or excellent practices which
people or organizations choose to emulate.

12. Higher

Education

Provider (HEP)

A body, corporation, organization, institution or other

body or persons which conducts higher education or
training programmes leading to the award of a higher
education qualification.

13. Learner

A person enrolled in a programme or course of study

offered by the HEP. Learners are typically students,
young

or

adult

and

include

teachers,

lecturers,

counsellors, administrators, et cet tera.

14. Learning Outcomes

Statements on what a learner should know, understand

and can do upon the completion of a period of study.

15. Lifelong Learning

Continuous building of skills and knowledge through

formal and informal experiences encountered during the

No.

Terms

Description
course of a lifetime. It is the voluntary and selfmotivated pursuit of knowledge for either personal or
professional reasons.

16. Life Wide Learning

The continuous, voluntary and self-motivated learning in

formal and non-formal and informal contexts for either
personal or professional reasons or just for the joy of
learning.

17. Malaysian

An instrument that classifies qualifications based on a

Qualifications

set of criteria that are approved nationally and

Framework (MQF)

benchmarked against international best practices.

18. Modules

Components of a programme. The term module is used

interchangeably with subjects, units, or courses.

19. Preschool

A place that provides children of ages 4-6 years with

(TADIKA)

early experiences for their growth, development and

learning.
A period of time within a programme during which the

Practice/

learners are required to be placed in the workplace for

Internship

the purpose of applying theory to practice and to gain

working experience. Professional practice/internship
includes teaching practice, school-based-experiences,
internship, and other attachments to the workplace. In
the world of work, Professional practice is also the
conduct of work based on and guided by the Knowledge
Corpus and Code of Ethics of a Profession.

21. Programme

An arrangement of modules that are structured for a

specified duration and learning volume to achieve the
stated learning outcomes leading to an award of a
qualification.

22. Programme Aims

An overarching statement on the purpose, philosophy

and rationale in offering the programme.

23. Programme
Objectives

Specific statements on what a learner is expected to

learn to achieve the programme aims.

iv
PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

20. Professional

No.

Terms

Description

24. Quality Assurance

Comprises planned and systematic actions (policies,

strategies, attitudes, procedures and activities) to
provide adequate demonstration that quality is being
maintained and enhanced, and meet the specified
standards of teaching, scholarship and research as well

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

as student-learning experience.
25. Quality

The steps taken to bring about continual improvement in

Enhancement

quality.

26. Resource Centre

A library in the HEP that includes different kinds of

holdings of knowledge resources, and encourages
the use of audio-visual aids and other special resources
and materials for learning, in addition to books,
periodicals, et cet tera.

27. Scholar Teacher

The notion that from the outset of selecting teaching as

a career and profession, the individual develops a
mindset that the noble profession requires not just the

development of personal and professional character but

also of intellectual character of scholarship. The
preferred term scholar-teacher is used in this document
to affirm a paradigm of accountability for thought and
knowledge leadership among members of the Teaching
Profession.
28. Student

Learning

Time

A period of time that a learner should spend on the

learning-teaching activities for a given credit which
comprises guided learning, independent learning and
assessment.

29. Teaching

and

Learning

Space

(TLS)

The place where teacher-learner interactions and

learning experiences take place.

It includes real

(physical) and virtual spaces from classrooms to chat

rooms and technology enhanced social spaces and
virtual (digital or electronic) libraries. TLS can also cross
time and space. For example, a two-dimensional TLS

No.

Terms

Description
grid of time (synchronous and asynchronous) versus
location (same and different).

30. Teaching Schools

Participating

schools

in

the

Teaching

School

Programme. In the 1970s, the University of Malaya

established collaboration with Sekolah Rendah Petaling
as a Teaching School and in 2003 Teacher Training
Institutes or Institut Pendidikan Guru (IPG) continued
the practice with a large number of schools throughout
the country. The main objective of this collaborative
smart

partnership

with

selected

schools

in

the

neighbourhood of IPGs is to strengthen the knowledge

and practice of teaching and learning of school
teachers, trainee teachers and IPG lecturers through
various activities, including research.

31. Viva Voce

An oral examination on a students communication skills

and knowledge of relevant facts from their thesis or

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

dissertation in stages or at the end of the candidature.

vi

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

ABBREVIATIONS

vii

1.

CDKG

Community Driven Knowledge Generation

2.

CMS

Content Management System

3.

COPIA

Code of Practice for Institutional Audit

4.

COPPA

Code of Practice for Programme Accreditation

5.

EPS

Education Programme Standards

6.

HEP

Higher Education Provider

7.

LMS

Learning Management System

8.

MOE

Ministry of Education

9.

MQA

Malaysian Qualifications Agency

10.

MQF

Malaysian Qualifications Framework

11.

QA

Quality Assurance

12.

TLS

Teaching and Learning Spaces

13.

CIEEE

Council on International Educational Exchange

14.

NCATE

National Council for the Accreditation of

Teacher Education

15.

MOOCS

Massive Open Online Courses

16.

PSELT

Pedagogy Standards for English Language

Teaching

17.

CPD

Continuous Professional Development

18.

INQAAHE

International Network of Quality Assurance

Agencies in Higher Education

1. INTRODUCTION

Much of what students are going to deal with in life involves knowledge and
technologies not yet known. The best schools are collegial and collaborative. Good
teaching is a team effort
~ Linda Darling Drummond

The Background: Historical, Social and Philosophical Context

In traditional societies, families provided education for their children through

intergenerational learning. Today, nations provide education for their citizens through
various kinds of educational and training institutions.

The education and training of teachers is offered through various modalities, levels
and specializations. Increasingly, education provisions are provided with an ever
developing and sophisticated teaching and learning technologies; the notion of e
learning, for instance is now a common practice and new ICT innovations are
increasingly used as common conventional technologies in education. Massive Open

The provisions of education are fundamentally quantitative and qualitative. The

fundamental provisions are the educational infrastructures: school buildings with
amenities and facilities, classrooms, libraries and learning resources, sports fields,
gymnasiums, or recreational facilities such as a swimming pool. Qualitative
provisions include aspects such as, well qualified, well trained, experienced and
exemplary teachers and administrators, relevant curriculum, effective teachinglearning methodologies, up-to-date teaching-learning, materials, and valid, reliable
and holistic assessment strategies. All these provisions should meet national and
international quality standards and should be continuously improved upon. The
criteria typically used to assess these provisions are access, equity, efficiency,
quality, relevancy, currency, creativity and innovations.

As nations develop, education is expected to provide the human resources needed

by all other socio-economic sectors of society. Investments in education have
become a prerequisite for national development. Human capital development through

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

Online Courses (MOOCs) is now increasing its strategic influence worldwide.

education and training encompasses the nurturing of potentialities, competencies,

talents and intelligences of citizens to create an enlightened citizenry responsibly
engaged in the democratic processes of their society. With the acquired skills and
competencies, school leavers are expected to be employable and entrepreneurial, to
experience the dignity of productive and meaningful work and labour while
contributing to society.

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

In Malaysia today, education programmes are offered by Teachers Colleges,

Faculties of Education and the Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) the

investment has helped place Malaysian education as one of the leading education

Education University, all of which provide adequate resources and, competent and
qualified personnel to conduct the programmes. Programmes are also available for
educational administrators and leaders to acquire educational management and
leadership skills. This Programme Standards for Education guides the formulation of
education programmes in Malaysia in meeting and exceeding standards of the
teaching profession.

Malaysia invests abundant resources in all levels of its education system. This

systems in the world, benchmarking itself against the best systems of other nations,
and measuring its progress against global criteria and standards.

The emphasis in the last two decades had been on higher education. Present
emphasis focuses on preschool and early childhood education in recognition that the
younger generation of learners are the nations most precious assets. When the
nations teachers are educated to the highest levels of professionalism, they in turn
will educate the young and provide them the best educational opportunities possible.
With quality education for all, the nation will generate an enlightened citizenry and
highly skilled knowledge workers.
Malaysias commitment to raise living standards and to improve the quality of life, can
only be achieved when its citizens are availed of opportunities of learning throughout
their life span. In the community and in the work place, employees and employers
alike continue to be learners who acquire more knowledge and competencies
applicable to their work and to their lives. A learned citizenry engaged in lifelong

learning and continuous personal and professional development will be confident,

with high and sound self-esteem, and, will be globally competitive.

Education draws its knowledge corpus from other disciplines of knowledge in the arts
and sciences.

The core disciplines of educational sciences include educational

philosophy, psychology, sociology, educational policy, management and leadership.

Like the discipline of management, the education discipline is a master hybrid
discipline, intertwined in multidisciplinary ways to other traditional knowledge
disciplines. Sometimes there are overlaps of contents between the disciplines of
educational knowledge. Also, different codes or subject titles are used by various
institutions for courses which may contain the same subject matter. Subjects such as
comparative education, international education, global education or history and
philosophy of education may be used interchangeably or with discrete substantive
and methodological distinctions. This Education Programme Standards (EPS) does
not prescribe nomenclatures but it does propose some good practices in specifying
nomenclatures. A sample of nomenclatures of education programmes offered in
Malaysia is in Appendix 1.

3
Programme Standards
Malaysias aim to become a regional educational hub requires the growth and
nurturing

of quality teachers benchmarked against international teacher standards.

All its national strategic plans emphasize education and the development and
sustenance of human capital to achieve knowledge and innovation-based economy
and a developed high-income society. The success of this aspiration will depend on
effective teacher education and the delivery of quality education in all educational
institutions in the country.

This Education Programme Standards (EPS) contains criteria and procedures for
quality assurance for teacher education in Malaysia. It provides guidelines for Higher
Education Providers (HEPs) to design and deliver relevant programmes to produce
professional educators for schools at all levels. It is also intended for use by HEPs as
a self-evaluation guide for continuous quality improvement. The document serves as
a reference for reviewers in recognition and accreditation of programmes. It is a

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

The Critical and Strategic Role of Education: The Importance of Education

frame of reference to assure that HEPs address relevant issues pertaining to

Education Programmes in well informed ways.

In addition to serving its purpose as standards to mould and shape teacher education
programmes, the EPS also endeavours to draw attention to, and hence stimulate
discussions on educational matters and issues that have yet to be explored and
addressed. Such intellectual discourse should generate insights for the enhancement

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

of the standards established in the EPS document.

The construction of this EPS is guided by the Code of Practice for Quality Assurance
in Public Universities in Malaysia, developed by the Quality Assurance Department
of the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education (2008) and the International
Recognition in Teacher Education developed by the Centre for Quality Assurance in
International Education (CQAIE http://www.cqaie.org), and, The National Council for
the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), United States. Unit Standards for
NCATE, for instance, focus on conceptual framework, knowledge, skills content
knowledge,

pedagogical

content

knowledge,

pedagogical

and

professional

knowledge and skills, and professional dispositions, assessment system and unit
evaluation, field experience and clinical practice, diversity, faculty qualifications,
performance and development, and unit governance and Resources. This EPS is
also informed by the contributions of the International Network of Quality Assurance
Agencies in Higher Education INQAAHE. (http://www.INQAAHE.org)

The Education Programme Standards provides guidelines on curriculum design and

delivery as well as non-curriculum matters such as student selection, academic staff
and educational resources. It aims to minimize quality control and enhance quality
assurance principles, policies and processes in teacher education to build and
sustain quality culture (Appendix 2). The introduction and dissemination of the EPS
would mean greater responsibility and accountability of HEPs in establishing and
assuring academic and professional standards and in promoting effectiveness of
quality teaching-learning processes. In addition, steps must be taken towards
continuous improvement and sustainability of the effectiveness of the learning
experiences of pre-service and in-service scholar-teachers and educational leaders.
In view of the knowledge traditions of the teaching profession and the challenges of
knowledge development, there has to be the reconstruction, redefinition and

acknowledgement, that teachers and educators are, in fact, the earliest knowledge
workers. To emphasize this reality and foster a continuing knowledge and learning
leadership culture among teachers and educators, we adopt the notion of scholar
teacher who will be engaged in lifelong and life-wide learning and continuous
professional development worthy of the profession.

Conceptualization of Programme Standards in Education

The transformative developmental drive towards quality enhancement -- envisioned

as stages comprising Input, Process, Product and Outcome as illustrated in
Appendix 3 forms the basis for the conceptualization of standards in this EPS.

By using facilitative/integrative and a multi-disciplinary approach this EPS re-visits

existing areas of quality focus and excellence in education with the aim of improving
and aligning them to fulfil expected national needs benchmarked against international
best practices. Hence, the quality process is oriented towards future possibilities of
creating one of the best educational systems, setting new milestones of excellence.

5
ethical, masterful of immediate and local realities, globally oriented, and
professionally qualified scholar-teachers. This EPS is to be supported by the
character development agenda and positive teacher attributes as articulated by the
philosophy, vision, mission, goals and core values of the HEPs.

The articulation of a quality agenda for education implies that the fundamentals are
in place and the system is determined to be competitive. Greater public confidence in
the Malaysian education system, and the development of world class educational
institutions are realized when the highest professional education (teaching) standards
are adopted and made transparent. Effective implementation of the EPS will generate
a critical mass of scholar- teachers and educators who provide leadership for the
present and next generations of learners, and contribute to build Malaysia as a centre
of excellence for educational programmes. All these can contribute to the emergence
of new fields of educational knowledge, enhanced capacity of educational institutions,
higher levels of abilities of professionals and new milestones in the educational
landscape.

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

An education programme guided by this EPS is expected to produce competent,

The EPS aims to nurture the development of a critical mass of educators who are
educational connoisseurs and lifelong contributors.The notion of quality involves the
totality of management systems devoted to maintaining and improving the quality and
standards of teaching, scholarship, research, and community services. It is also
dedicated to the effective enhancement of students learning experiences and to
producing educators who will further develop

quality culture of the education

system. This EPS comprises of systematic principles and activities necessary to

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

provide confidence that the quality agenda is being addressed in teacher education,
in educational institutions and in the educational system as a whole. The standards

The purpose of this EPS document is to provide guidelines in relation to the

cover those for teacher education, and, the development of professionals in the
educational sciences, in a variety of roles and contexts (including school
administration, counselling, sport coaching, and the organising of extracurricular
activities). It is expected that the consistent and focused use of the EPS will directly
improve the lives of learners, the professional development of educators, the
inspiration of colleagues and peers, and, would also further enhance the status of the
teaching profession.

development and conduct of education programmes, thus, it is important that this

document be read together with other quality assurance and policy framework
documents. Among the major quality policy-directed documents which should
accompany this EPS are as follows:

1.

The Malaysian Qualifications Framework (MQF)

2.

The Code of Practice for Programme Accreditation (COPPA)

3.

The Code of Practice for Institutional Audit (COPIA)

4.

Guidelines to Good Practices (GGPs)

5.

Malaysian Teacher Standards (KPM)

6.

Malaysian Education Quality Standards (KPM)

7.

Pedagogical Standards for Language Teaching (ELTC)

8.

Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013 2025 (KPM)

9.

The Early Childhood Education Programme Standards (Forth Coming, MQA

2014).

10.

Other Seminal works regarding Standards, such as Standards for

Educational and Psychological Testing (American Educational Research

Association, American Psychological Association and National Council on

Measurement in Education, 1999).
Particular mention must be made of the Malaysia Education Blueprint (2013 2025)
and the substance and spirit of the eleven shifts as well as the six aspirations, to
transform the education system. It is pertinent to take note that Malaysian universities
are engaged in world university rankings hence demanding the use of standards and
criteria which are globally applied. The Malaysian school system is also benchmarked
against international measures such as Trends in International Mathematics and
Science Study (TIMSS) and Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)
and as yet, a programme for Malaysia to be officially involved in, the Progress in
International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS). For purposes of comparisons,
continuous improvement and in order to be proficient with the protocols of this
Education Programme Standards, HEP leaders are invited to read programme
standards for education and other codes of performance standards in other countries.
Based on experience, and feedback of suitability and relevance, the criteria and
standards set out in this document are subject to review, improvement and
modifications. All providers of education programmes should participate and be

It is expected that this EPS will transform the quality culture of teacher education in
Malaysia and enable teachers across the generations to educate the future
generations of students effectively, constructively and inspiringly. We also believe
that continuing contributions by educators and HEPS will enhance knowledge-based
professionalism, and, assure that the teaching profession becomes one of the most
contributive and respected professions in society.

Core Body of Knowledge of Education Discipline

In 2011, MQA introduced a policy to enhance the quality assurance protocols of

programme standards by identifying the core body of knowledge within each
discipline (See Appendix 4).

This policy direction is indeed a challenging and

exciting task, because the discipline of education is vast, holistic and pluralistic.

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

actively involved in this quality enhancement initiative and agenda.

To ensure that the task of developing an EPS is, relevant, practical, and manageable

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

five components of the core body of knowledge in education are identified, as follows:

1.

The education foundations component

2.

The professional practice component

3.

The school subject content component

4.

The educational electives component

5.

The education specialization component

[Please note that the Compulsory university-wide component is the government

requirement for all degree programmes. The General Education Subjects (Mata
Pelajaran Pengajian Umum) include Bahasa Melayu Komunikasi, Malaysian Studies,
Presentation Skills, and Entrepreneurship.]

There are Mandatory Courses required by the Government or even by the HEP
itself. For reasons of national interest or the interest of students themselves, various
courses are made Compulsory. There are also HEP Core Courses such as Bahasa
Melayu,
Malaysian
Studies,
Islamic/Moral
studies,
Social
Science/Humanities/Liberal Arts, Co-Curriculum/Scientific, Literacy/Languages,
Communications Skills and Talent Development. Beginning 2014 Mata Pelajaran
Wajib [Mandatory Subjects] are replaced by Mata Pelajaran Umum (General
Subjects which are Compulsory).

This EPS adopts the above five components while recognising that there are other
ways to conceptualize the core body of knowledge in education and that these
components are not mutually exclusive.
The spiral curriculum of the body of knowledge can be seen through the various
conceptualizations of continuous and cumulative mastery of the discipline of
education at the certificate, diploma, bachelor, masters, and doctoral levels.

1.

The Education Foundations Component

The education foundation component is the core body of knowledge for
the discipline of education. The body of knowledge for the education
foundations are:
i.

history of education

ii.

philosophy of education

2.

iii.

psychology of education

iv.

sociology/anthropology of education

v.

comparative, international and global education.

The Professional Practice Component

The professional practice component takes on a clinical dimension
where the professional must master the skills, tools, concepts and
applications of the science and art of the teaching profession. This
component is typically considered as the pedagogical and teaching
learning instructional area. Curriculum, teaching and learning, and
assessment are the generic core applicable to all levels of education, all
scholar-teachers learners, and all subject specializations.
The professional practice components include practice teaching, mock
classrooms, simulations, role play, micro teaching and exercises in
teaching

laboratories. An

essential

component

of

the

generic

professional practice core is attachment, internship or practicum at

relevant

workplace

within

or

beyond

education

and

training

[Please also note that in all professions (for instance, Medicine and
Law) Professional Practice means practice in the world of work, and
the term is not confined to Professional practice during the study
programme in order to acquire the skills to enter the profession.]

3.

The School Subject Content Component

The school subject content component covers all the school subjects
offered in the national school curriculum across all levels of schooling.
Typically, teachers are expected to master at least two subject areas as
their specializations. With mastery in the content areas of school subject
knowledge, teachers should have the confidence to guide students to
master the knowledge, skills, attitudes, modes of thinking of subjects
such as languages, mathematics, the sciences, vocational and technical

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

organizations.

subjects, health and sports sciences, domestic science,

history,

geography, Islamic studies and moral education.

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

For instance, School Subjects in Malaysia at the Lower Secondary School Level are
subjects such as Bahasa Malaysia; English Language; Science; Mathematic;
Geography; History; Living Skills; Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Islamic Studies;
Tamil Language; Chinese Language; Optional Subjects: Chinese Language; Basic
Arabic Communication; Higher Arabic Communication; Tamil Language; Punjabi
Language; Iban Language; and Kadazandusun Language.

10

It is suggested that the school subject content be cross referenced and

linked to the academic subject discipline core in the various degree
programme areas offered by higher education providers [HEPs]. For
instance, the academic content core of subject specialisations offered at
the secondary level in the Malaysian school system (as listed in
Appendix 5) would be derived from the degree programmes for those
subjects as offered in the various Faculties and departments of
universities.

The mastery of school subject specializations is typically either prior to

pursuing studies in teacher education, or, simultaneously while
acquiring the core corpus of academic and professional knowledge,
relevant skills, and positive attitudes for the teaching profession. In the
former case, the developing scholar-teacher would have acquired
qualifications in specific academic discipline areas and then enrol for a
Diploma in Education. In the latter case the developing scholar-learner
would be simultaneously acquiring and mastering school subject
specializations in parallel

with the core body of knowledge for the

teaching profession in programmes such as Bachelor of Education,

Mathematics or Science with Education, ICT and Education, Islamic
Studies and Education and the like.

This EPS does not identify the body of knowledge for the various
academic and school subject areas.

4.

The Education Electives Component

Educational electives cover a large range of courses offered at all levels

of qualifications.

The body of knowledge of educational electives,

includes both those related to education disciplines, as well as

additional school subjects that the teacher can teach in schools and
other generic subjects not directly related to education or school subject
areas.

There are two kinds of electives:

A] The first type of electives are electives related to the Education
Disciplines, for instance, when: the subjects may not be in the area of
studies of the Scholar Teacher. There may be cases when Humanities
and Social Science majors may be interested in Science Electives [with
or without prerequisites], and, Vice versa. Electives in this category may
mean deeper and advanced studies in subjects such as the following:
Curriculum Development

and Evaluation; Advanced Educational

Advanced French or Chinese; or Educational Ethnography. Electives

also refer to the additional subjects that a graduate teacher has
mastered and is qualified to teach in schools. For example, a scholarteacher majoring in Primary Science Education may take Physical
Education as an elective or minor.
B] The second type of electives are electives not directly related to
Education Disciplines but offered by the University [or Recognized
Partner Institutions] and are subjects, scholar-teachers are interested in,
for instance: Russian Literature, Southeast Asian History; Golf; Tennis,
Gender Studies. Such electives serve as a form of enrichment and
continuing personal development for the scholar-teacher.

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

Psychology; Advanced Foundations of Education; Intermediate or

11

5.

The Education Specialization Component

The education specialization component may be specialization at the

preschool, primary, secondary, post-secondary, tertiary, or continuing
education levels. The specialization core can be in the foundation, the
pedagogic and assessment areas, the school subject areas or even in
the electives, or beyond the foundational, the generic professional core,

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

the electives core or even the school subject areas.

12

The specialization core can, for instance be, Language Teaching and
Linguistics, Mathematics and

Science Teaching, History, Geography,

Islamic Studies, Technology of Education, Teacher Education, PreSchool Education, Adult Education, Life-Long Learning, Educational
Research, Creativity and Innovation Studies, or, Special Education for
the handicapped, and disadvantaged, the gifted and the exceptional.
Also, specialization can be, for instance in Early Childhood Education,
Educational

Technology, Educational Management and Leadership,

Special Education, Sport Science and Physical Education, Technical

and Vocational Education, Islamic Education/Religious Education,
Language and Literacy Education, Mathematics and Science Education,
Social Science and Humanities Education, Counselling or Adult
Education. Specializations may be by levels of specializations or subject
specializations. Examples of areas of study in educational programmes
are provided in Appendix 6.

Educational thought leaders, scholars, and researchers who are

responsible for curriculum design and development for pedagogy,
andragogy, and assessment can, for instance, pick any of the core body
of knowledge and choose to focus, elaborate upon and enhance on the
core identified as appropriate to the educational level, such knowledge
acquired can be applied in problem solving as well as in initiating
innovation and creativity.

Note: HEPs are to note that there may be overlaps at the level of
courses, themes, topics, sub topics and concepts and theories and
even reference books used. Some of the overlaps may be necessary

and reinforcing and may be deliberate

However, HEPs have the responsibility to
resource of time and expertise which are
mindfully managed and there should not
overlaps because of lack of meticulousness.

and reasoned overlaps.

ensure that the precious
significant and costly are
be unwitting overlaps or

Education Disciplines and Education Standards

As noted earlier, it is reemphasized that this EPS aims to provide guidelines to the
HEP to produce educators and trainers for education institutions from the preschool
to the tertiary levels.

It is intended as a self-evaluation guide for an HEPs

educational programmes. It is also a guideline manual for purposes of recognition

and accreditation of programmes. The criteria and standards identified and generated
are subject to continuous improvement and modifications based on feedback
received and advances and developments in the field.

Contemporary education development recognizes the multi disciplinarity of the

knowledge corpus, leading to the emergence of various kinds of degrees and awards
which transcend

traditional

knowledge

boundaries, for examples science with

education, religion with education and business with education.

Irrespective of the

appropriate educational levels and core essentials of the education discipline. This
EPS provides guidelines in the nine areas of evaluation of the Code of Practice for
Programme Accreditation (COPPA) which covers the following:
1.

Vision, mission, educational goals and learning outcomes;

2.

Curriculum design and delivery;

3.

Assessment of students;

4.

Student selection and support services;

5.

Academic staff;

6.

Educational resources;

7.

Programme monitoring and review;

8.

Leadership, governance and administration; and

9.

Continual quality improvement.

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

multi disciplinarity, the curriculum of education programmes shall address the

13

Levels of Study

The Education Programme Standards describes the different levels of standards

leading to the award of qualifications, namely Certificate (MQF Level 3), Diploma
(MQF Level 4), Bachelors Degree (MQF Level 6), Postgraduate Certificate,
Postgraduate Diploma and Masters Degree (MQF Level 7) and Doctoral Degree

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

(MQF Level 8).

Programme Offering

There are various ways education programmes are offered by Malaysian institutions
of higher education. For instance, there are the stand alone education programmes,
education with, major and minor, and a combination of education with other
disciplines.

1.

The Stand Alone Programmes

a.

14

E.g. Certificate in Pre-School Education, Certificate in Early

Childhood Education,

Diploma in Education, Diploma in Early

Childhood Education, Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Teaching and

Learning, Bachelor of Education, Bachelor of Education in Primary
Education, Postgraduate Diploma in Education, Post-Graduate
Diploma in Higher Education Teaching, Master of Education, MA in
Educational Leadership and Management.

2.

Education With Other Discipline Major

a.

E.g. Bachelor of Education (Mathematics), Bachelor of Education

(Science), Bachelor of Education

(Economics), Bachelor of

Education (Biotechnology) and Bachelor of Education (Teaching of

English as a Second Language-TESL).

3.

Combination of Education With Other Disciplines

a.

E.g. Bachelor of Arts (Education); Bachelor of Islamic Studies

(Education), Bachelor of Science (Education) and Bachelor of
Biotechnology (Education).

2. PROGRAMME AIMS
A programmes stated aims reflect what it wants the learner to achieve. It is crucial
for these aims to be expressed explicitly and be made known to learners and other
stakeholders alike
~ (COPPA, 2008, pp.10).

The vision, mission and core values of educational programmes are founded on
national aspirations and the codes of the teaching profession. The main aims and
objectives of an education programme are to produce competent scholar-teachers,
education managers and administrators and other education professionals, at all levels
of education. Teacher education institutions offer programmes which provide
appropriate qualifications to ensure adequate supply of competent, knowledgeable
educators and scholar-teachers as critical members of the Malaysian work force.
Highly trained personnel in the education sector can directly contribute towards the
continuous development of the education system and towards the realisation of the
vision and mission of building a developed, sovereign, contributive and peaceful nation.

outcomes in the Malaysian Qualifications Framework (MQF):

1. Knowledge;
2. Practical skills;
3. Social skills and responsibilities;
4. Values, attitudes and professionalism;
5. Communication, leadership and team skills;
6. Problem solving and scientific skills;
7. Information management and lifelong learning skills; and
8. Managerial and entrepreneurial skills.

While these eight domains are universal bases for building and reinforcing learning
outcomes, there are other domains in supporting learning outcomes. Educators can
creatively use these and other domains as well to ensure that the programmes offered
meet the highest standards aspired for. In doing so, educators and educational

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

All programme objectives should be aligned with the eight domains of learning

15

providers will be applying the principles of flexibility and continuous improvements, in

highlighting new discoveries and insights in the knowledge fields without compromising
quality, standards and the pursuit of excellence.

This Education Programme Standards (EPS) takes into account and builds upon the
Malaysian Teacher Standards (SGM, Standards Standard Guru Malaysia, 2009). The
EPS encompasses the strengths of the acquired knowledge and experiences of teacher

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

education under the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the evolving knowledge and
experiences contributed by educators working in universities and institutions of higher

16

collaboration, infrastructure and info structure and quality assurance. The Standards

education.

Malaysian Teacher Standards was formulated to address professional competencies of

teachers and to identify readiness of implementation of training needs by agencies and
institutions to ensure that required teacher competencies are achieved. The framework
encompasses the national mission, national philosophy of education, philosophy of
teacher education, the code of the teaching profession, and the work ethics in the
Ministry of Education/Education System, eligibility for entry into programme, training,

cover in details professional values of the profession, knowledge and understanding,

and competencies in teaching and learning. The users of this EPS can, of course, refer
to the SGM as well as other nationally and internationally relevant materials.

The Pedagogy Standards for English Language Teaching (PSELT) provides a useful
reference for scholar-teachers and HEPs as they formulate guidelines for professional
Practice. The standards enable scholar teachers to identify their training needs and
continuous professional development mindful of current developments in education. Six
dimensions of standards identified for English Language Teaching (which have
relevance to Teaching in other subjects) are as follows: 1. Proficiency, 2. English
Language Curriculum, 3. Learner, 4. Methodology, 5. Management, and 6.
Assessment. Each dimension has its own set of primary and secondary standards.
Adapting from the State of Queensland (Department of Education 2002) Standards, the
PSELT standards are presented using the following Protocols: Standard Title, Standard
Descriptor, Statements, Indicators, Threshold Level, Threshold Plus, essential
Underlying Knowledge and Skills, and Glossary.

Providers of education programmes are encouraged to work towards the academic and
professional development

of

every scholar-teacher learner in

the

education

programmes as they address these education programmes in terms of levels, modes,

and approaches of programme offerings. (See Appendix 6)

CERTIFICATE

An education programme at the certificate level aims to provide learners with

fundamental knowledge and basic skills in teaching and learning. Such certificate
programmes also aim to provide basic education and training with a blended approach
that includes practical knowledge in operating schools, kindergarten and coaching
centres with a preliminary understanding of theoretical underpinnings.
The programme objectives at the certificate level are to educate and train learners to
become graduates who are able to:

1.

acquire an understanding of basic knowledge of the (school) subject matter;

2.

apply the pedagogical content knowledge of subject matter in teachinglearning contexts;

acquire, internalize and apply the general skills of teaching-learning and
instruction;

4.

acquire, internalize and apply positive professional values and practices;

and

5.

continuously and incrementally develop general knowledge and individual

talents and their fullest potentialities.

DIPLOMA

An education programme at the diploma level aims to provide learners with a broadbased knowledge and intermediate-to-advanced skills with appropriate autonomy in
teaching and learning. Diploma level programmes also aim to provide a broad-based
education and training with blended developmental approaches that include
managerial and administrative knowledge in operating schools, kindergarten and
coaching centres with an evolving understanding of theoretical underpinnings of
educational disciplines.

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

3.

17

The programme objectives at the diploma level are to educate and train learners to
become scholar-teacher graduates who are able to:
1.

apply broad-based knowledge of the (school) subject matter and practical

skills to educational settings;

2.

communicate, lead, engage and contribute in teams in problem solving tasks

in educational settings;

3.

use information effectively and acquire administrative skills pertaining to

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

educational development;

18

4.

continuously and incrementally develop general knowledge and individual

talents and the fullest personal potentialities; and

5.

become fully committed towards the profession and develop responsibilities

towards society;

BACHELORS DEGREE

An education programme at the bachelor level aims to provide learners with in-depth
knowledge and skills, simultaneously nurturing capacities of a high degree of
professional and intellectual autonomy, adaptability and versatility in teaching and
learning. Such a programme also aims to provide advanced education and training
with blended approaches that include managerial and administrative knowledge in
operating schools, kindergarten and coaching centres, based on an understanding of
theoretical underpinnings of education.
The degree programme is also to produce skilled educators who are able to confront
challenges faced during their experiences in teaching, managing and supervising
students, by familiarising them with relevant, appropriate and significant researchbased knowledge in different areas of education.
The programme objectives at the bachelor level are to educate and train learners to
become graduate scholar-teachers who are able to:
1.

acquire,

and apply

a coherent and detailed knowledge and

understanding of the underlying values and principles of relevant

curriculum frameworks in the school system;
2.

acquire, and apply conceptual understanding of the diversity of the

learners backgrounds, personalities, the complexities of the education

processes from early childhood education to the highest

level of

education;
3.

explore and create opportunities and possibilities in implementing

innovative

and

relevant

educational

programmes,

as

well

as

demonstrate, uphold and cherish the ethics and professional codes of

practice and values of the teaching profession;
4.

initiate and foster positive and productive relationships with families and
the community as well as demonstrate the capacity to engage in life-long
learning and life-long contribution;

5.

acquire, apply and exercise acts of professional leadership in

accordance with the responsibilities given or initiated by the professional
scholar-teacher; and

6.

continuously

and

incrementally

develop

general knowledge and

individual talents and the fullest personal personalities.

POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE AND DIPLOMA

An education programme at the postgraduate certificate or postgraduate diploma
level aims to enable graduates to obtain qualifications with the corpus of knowledge

Collectively, the postgraduate certificate and diploma serve to provide graduates with
advanced knowledge and skills in selected and focussed areas of educational
development to enable scholar-teachers to deal with the demands of new
developments in the fields of education.
The programme objectives at postgraduate certificate and diploma levels are
specifically to educate and train learners to become graduate scholar-teachers who
are able to:
1.

use knowledge and skills that enable them to work effectively in a range of
educational settings;

2.

foster informed insights, awareness of, interest in and commitment to the

aims and values inherent in the theory and practice of education, in various
contexts within the educational settings;

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

and competencies that bridge the bachelors and the masters qualifications.

19

3.

commit to raising standards of education and use problem solving and

scientific skills to implement the curriculum relevant to the needs of learners
in particular educational settings;

4.

demonstrate a capacity for reflection and critical analysis of scholar-teachers

own practice and, anticipate and use innovation for continuing professional
development; and

5.

continuously and incrementally develop general knowledge and diverse

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

individual talents and their fullest potentialities.

20

MASTERS DEGREE
An education programme at the masters level aims to provide graduates with
advanced knowledge in specialized areas of education, with clear directions and
pathways to acquire, generate, enhance, hone knowledge and skills, whilst making
cross-linkages with other knowledge disciplines such as the humanities, the social
sciences and the physical sciences.
The programme objective at the masters level is specifically to educate and train
learners to become graduate scholar-teachers who are able to:
1.

make judgments of relevant theories and practices and demonstrate

capability of producing new and creative knowledge in order to be effective
and inspiring professionals;

2.

critically analyse, and synthesize the understanding of their own sources of

mature professional knowledge and professional practices to solve
significant problems;

3.

plan and execute innovative projects, research initiatives and write

dissertations, theses and reports for the purpose of building and applying
knowledge for the benefit of the profession and society as a whole;

4.

demonstrate

capabilities in generating and communicating knowledge

effectively through the practice of life-long learning and life-long contribution;

5.

lead and participate in knowledge generation and in championing intellectual

property rights and acknowledgments of original works by others, guarding
against plagiarism and other academic improprieties; and

6.

acquire

general

knowledge

and

develop

specializations, individual talents and potentialities.

diverse

educational

Note:
Some Malaysian universities have begun to offer an M. Phil degree programme in
education. Typically an M.Phil in education is a research degree programme with a
study duration between 12 to 24 months for full time and 24 to 28 months for part
time studies. The length of the thesis is approximately 50,000 words. The M.Phil
thesis enriches the body of knowledge of the field of education through analysing,
applying, clarifying, critiquing and interpreting the specific body of knowledge
concerned. The M.Phil degree is a level 7 qualification as per the MQF. This
Education Programme Standards does not cover the M. Phil.
DOCTORAL DEGREE

An education programme at the Doctoral level aims to enable graduates to become

exemplary educational leaders, policy makers, practitioners, educational researchers
and thought leaders. The programme also aims to provide graduates with the ability
to undertake scholarly research and be in the forefront of their specialized fields;
become credible authorities and experts, as professional educators, who would
further facilitate the generation and advancement of knowledge and set the highest
standards of professionalism.

Doctoral programmes must contribute to both the

development of individual scholars and the development of learning communities,

21

involving schools, post-secondary institutions, workplaces, and community-based

The graduate attributes of doctoral degree holders, include, the

mastery of multidisciplinarity and multiple intelligences and modes of thinking in

educational and non-educational contexts, and, deep and broad understanding of
multi-culturalism and diversity. Such graduates would also have the knowledge and
intellectual capacity to engage in inter-cultural and inter-disciplinary dialogues, to
understand profoundly the various schools of social and educational thought, and, to
meaningfully contribute to solve educational problems, nationally and internationally.

The programme objective at the Doctoral level is to educate and train learners to
become graduates who are scholar-educators able to:

1.

grow and become accomplished and experienced educational professionals

able to make judgments of relevant theories and practices and be capable of
producing new and relevant knowledge through research;

2.

synthesize and evaluate professional knowledge and practice and apply

such knowledge to solve significant problems;

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

organizations.

3.

initiate and innovate independent projects and research activities for the
purpose of building and applying knowledge for the benefit of the local
community, national society and the global community;

4.

participate in scholarly discourses and disseminate knowledge through

publications and journals and other means of knowledge dissemination in the
academic and non-academic world; and

5.

develop expertise in teaching, coaching and mentoring and build credibility to

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

become role models in appropriate educational contexts.

22

3. LEARNING OUTCOMES
The learning and knowledge that we have, is, at the most, but little compared with
that of which we are ignorant
~Plato
The quality of a programme is ultimately assessed by the ability of the learner to
carry out their expected roles and responsibilities in society. This requires the
programme to have a clear statement of the learning outcomes to be achieved by the
learner" (COPPA, 2008, pp.11). These learning outcomes should cumulatively reflect
the eight domains of learning outcomes, which are significant for Malaysia (MQF,
2007, Para 15).

Education programmes must be aligned to the eight domains of the MQF and the
realms of knowledge, specifically the body of knowledge of the education disciplines.
There is commonality in the focus of contents in the knowledge, skills, values and
attitudes related to the fields of education, at various certification levels, although
such contents may vary in breadth, depth, experience, and significance. The criteria

the time spent on teaching and learning; a higher degree of intellectual and mindful
autonomy; expectations of depth in reading, thinking, discourse and research, the
originality of work expected to be produced, and the allocation of credit hours. It is
reemphasized that the corpus of knowledge, skills and attitudes acquired by all
scholar-teachers in the teaching profession would be similar, but the difference in
professional acumen, cumulatively, would be only in depth, breadth, experience,
specialization and significance.

The goals and expected outcomes of an education qualification would be articulated

and reflected in the curriculum of the programmes and in the various approaches and
models of assessment.

The allocation of credit hours, class time and student

learning influence the level of mastery of the various subjects by the scholar-teacher.
The following goals are examples of the goals appropriate for the different levels of
qualifications.

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

of breadth, depth and levels of difficulties and complexity, are typically determined by

23

CERTIFICATE

At the end of the programme scholar-teachers should be able to:

1.

demonstrate basic knowledge and understanding of the structure, content

and methodology relating to teaching and learning;

2.

demonstrate basic practical skills which can be applied to educational

3.

articulate depth of awareness of the importance of education in society;

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

settings;

4.

show

24

9.

evidence

of

adequate

professional

values,

attitudes

and

professionalism;
5.

show evidence of adequate communication, leadership and team skills;

6.

apply basic problem solving and scientific skills to solve educational

problems;

7.

identify and categorize

information to promote effective teaching and

learning;
8.

exhibit basic managerial,

entrepreneurial and ICT skills pertaining to

personal and institutional development; and

continuously and incrementally develop encyclopaedic general knowledge
and diverse individual talents and potentialities.

DIPLOMA

At the end of the programme scholar-teachers should be able to:

1.

demonstrate broad-based knowledge of the structure, content and

methodology of teaching relating to student learning;

2.

apply advanced practical skills to educational settings;

3.

demonstrate responsibilities towards the needs of education in society

4.

demonstrate

commitment

to

professional

values,

attitudes

and

professionalism;
5.

show evidence of competent and thoughtful communication, leadership and

team skills;

6.

apply problem solving, scientific skills and creative thinking in educational

settings;

7.

apply and analyse information to promote effective teaching and learning in

various education settings;

8.

exhibit intermediate managerial, entrepreneurial and ICT skills pertaining to

personal and institutional development;

9.

continuously and incrementally develop encyclopaedic general knowledge

and diverse individual talents, and their fullest potentialities; and

10. be actively engaged in contributions to community development through

professional organizations or voluntary organizations.
BACHELORS DEGREE

At the end of the programme scholar-teachers should be able to:

1.

analyse

and develop understanding of the structure, content and

methodology relating to student learning in specific subjects, in

cross-

curricular activities and programmes, and meet the challenges of the whole
school curriculum;
2.

function effectively in applying different philosophical underpinnings in

education and practical skills at different levels and in different educational
settings;

3.

competently, creatively and innovatively promote the utilization of the

quality

practices in educational settings as well as address sensitively, effectively

and mindfully the multicultural contexts of learner diversity to foster learning
and nurture the talents and potentialities of learners;
4.

meet the requirements of established professional teaching standards at all

levels (schools, colleges, universities and other learning organizations);

5.

apply knowledge of interpersonal skills, communication skills, and, have the

capacity to

work collaboratively and independently to solve problems in

different educational settings;

6.

demonstrate characteristics of professional leadership appropriate to the

responsibility given;

7.

apply problem solving and scientific skills as well as awareness of the role of
research to inform their evolving professional practice, mindfully, through
knowledge mastery and understanding;

8.

reflect upon and learn from their own experiences in order to advance and
take their own learning forward, for instance, using the theory of
constructivism;

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

knowledge corpuses of the teaching profession and protocols of

25

9.

exhibit managerial, entrepreneurial and ICT skills as well as be responsive to

the changing nature of education as an academic and professional
discipline;

10. continuously and

incrementally

develop

encyclopaedic

general

knowledge and diverse individual talents and, their fullest potentialities; and
11. be actively engaged in contributions to community development through

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

professional organizations or voluntary organizations.

26

POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE AND POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA

At the end of the programme, scholar-teachers should be able to:
1.

demonstrate the uses of knowledge and skills which enable them to work
effectively in a range of educational settings;

2.

foster the development of informed insights into the cultural, social, political,
economic and religious contexts within which schooling takes place;

3.

demonstrate an awareness of, interest in and commitment to the aims and

values inherent in the theories and practices of education;

4.

commit to raising standards of education and improving student progress;

5.

demonstrate the capacity to use problem solving and scientific skills in

implementing the curriculum relevant to the needs of learners

in any

particular educational settings;

6.

demonstrate a capacity for reflection and critical analysis of their own

practice and for their own continuing professional development;

7.

demonstrate an understanding of the changing world and foster the

development of professional mind-sets which are able to objectively weigh,
make decisions, anticipate and accommodate innovation;

8.

continuously and

incrementally

develop

encyclopaedic

general

knowledge and diverse talents, and, potentialities;

9.

develop expertise in teaching, coaching and mentoring and build credibility to

become role models in appropriate educational contexts; and

10. be actively engaged in contributions to community development through

professional organizations or other voluntary organizations.
.

MASTERS DEGREE

At the end of the programme the scholar-teachers should be able to:

1.

apply and integrate knowledge relating to current research issues in specific

areas of study;

2.

apply research techniques to acquire, interpret and extend educational

knowledge in areas of study;

3.

demonstrate the capability to communicate, lead and work together in

building new knowledge;

4.

synthesize

advanced knowledge and engage in problem solving and

scientific skills;
5.

demonstrate

the capabilities and dispositions to work as engaged

professional educators in building learning communities into the future;

6.

design and conduct research professionally and ethically; and

7.

continuously, incrementally and cumulatively develop encyclopaedic general

knowledge and diverse individual talents and potentialities.

DOCTORAL DEGREE

1.

demonstrate systematic comprehension and in-depth understanding of a

specific area of study;

2.

demonstrate the capability as researcher, and, the skills to supervise

research projects;

3.

critically analyse, evaluate and synthesize new and complex ideas;

4.

demonstrate critical, creative and analytical thinking, and effective problemsolving;

5.

broaden the boundary of knowledge through in depth thesis exposition of a

field and knowledge generation in the field of studies;

6.

communicate mature knowledge to peers, scholarly communities and society

at large through publications and other academic media;

7.

demonstrate the capacity to understand and advance educational thought in

multidisciplinary ways;

8.

develop capacity to contribute meaningfully to development beyond the

education sector;

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

At the end of the programme, scholar -teachers should be able to:

27

9.

develop knowledge mastery which enhance the capacity for discourse and
engagement with knowledge and thought leaders in other fields; and

10. continuously and incrementally

develop encyclopaedic general knowledge

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

and diverse individual talents and potentialities.

28

4. CURRICULUM DESIGN AND DELIVERY

Education is a social process. Education is growth. Education is not a preparation for

life; education is life itself
~John Dewey
For the purpose of this Programme Standards, reference is made to the Code of
Practice for Programme Accreditation (COPPA) and in particular, the section on
Curriculum Design and Delivery. The term curriculum design and delivery is used
interchangeably with the term programme design and delivery. Programme means
an arrangement of courses that are structured for a specified duration and learning
volume to achieve the stated learning outcomes, and, usually leading to an award of
a qualification (COPPA, 2008, p.12). This section of the Programme Standards
contains basic and enhanced statements pertaining to the structure and delivery of a
programme within the field of Education.

General Guide
There is a rich literature on curriculum design, development, delivery, and evaluation

education programmes. This section provides broad guidelines to the development of

curriculum for education programmes. The structure of any particular education
programme and the contents for the various courses in a programme can be
collectively generated by the community of practitioners, education experts,
appropriate and significant stakeholders.

Curriculum Design
Curriculum design can be defined as a strategic process of developing a programme
of learning that enable learners to achieve the appropriate level and scope of
knowledge, disciplinary skills and professional values which should be mastered by
the scholar-teacher on completion of the study. The process of curriculum design
should be based on curriculum theories and best practices from established sources.
There are various approaches in designing the curriculum, for example, the learnercentered, subject-centered, problem-centered, evidence-based, research-centered,
project-based approaches, broad-based or spiral curriculum.

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

that can be applied to the curriculum design of education sciences and teacher

29

The curriculum design for education provides the framework and guidelines for
teaching and learning, social responsibility and accountability, the sources of the
knowledge base, professional values, and social development. The process of
developing the curriculum includes the aims, objectives, and learning outcomes of the
educational programmes, organization of the content, and methods of delivery,
monitoring, supervision, and evaluation.

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

Appropriate and effective mapping of components for curriculum design are critical

30

prerequisites for the development of good educational programmes. This education

programme standards provides general criteria for the components of curriculum
design, namely:

program aims and objectives

range of subjects provided

structure and sequence of the content

amount of time allocated to each subject

delivery methods of instructional content

means and approaches of evaluation

The program aims and objectives are stated in the previous section.
This section provides guidelines on (1) the selection of learning content; (2) how the
components of content are arranged to engage students so as to achieve the
objectives and outcomes; and (3) how the learning components are delivered to
facilitate student learning. Various means of evaluation of learners educational
experiences are presented in the section on assessment of student learning.
Education programmes can be categorized into several levels, namely, certificate,
diploma, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees. Programmes should be designed
in an integrated and balanced way. In this guide, programmes at each level are
categorized into compulsory module, core module, including education common core,
discipline core courses, professional practice and elective modules. The credits and
time allocation for scholar-teacher independent learning (SLT) are the subjects of
continuing debates and research. (Appendix 7)

In all education programmes there is the requirement and the expectation that there
should be engagement of relevant stakeholders in the design, delivery and review of

the curriculum. These stakeholders include educational leaders, school practitioners,

knowledge and thought leaders, journalists, philosophers, educational administrators,
policy makers, parents, community and student leaders, government representatives,
employers, textbook writers and media content developers, education consultants
and experts. HEPs should wisely select the mix of stakeholders as advisory members
in committees who can contribute relevantly in any particular educational
programmes.

Program design is considered in the four dimensions, i.e., scope, sequence,

integration and continuity, represented in the horizontal and vertical relationships of
arrangements of the content. First, horizontally, the integration of multidisciplinary
knowledge should be emphasized at each level. For example, each level (e.g.,
certificate, diploma, bachelor, master degree level) consists of foundation courses,
disciplinary courses, elective courses and teaching practice which are categorized
into compulsory module, core module [and professional practice], elective module to
provide students with comprehensive understanding and knowledge in educational
sciences and professional teaching. Second, the vertical relationship focuses on the
sequence and continuity of the content in the respective subjects, that is, the depth of

advanced. For example, courses on child education at certificate level require

students to master the basic knowledge and skills, while it requires advanced and
deeper understanding and application of knowledge and skills at the diploma and
bachelor levels. At the specific programme and subject level, collaborative efforts and
engagements between curriculum specialists, teachers, and policy makers and other
stakeholders in the education industry or education services would be particularly
important in formulating and building systematic, integrated and effective Curriculum
Plan Standards.

Body of Educational Discipline Knowledge

As discussed earlier, there are overlaps among the courses in the five components of
the educational knowledge disciplines. Also, for the purpose of practical coordination
and presentation in the EPS, the core modules of educational discipline knowledge
are presented into three categories, that is;

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

difficulty and complexity in each subject increases as the degree level is raised and

31

1.

Education common core (The education foundations component);

2.

The professional practice and discipline core (The professional practice

component]; and

3.

The electives.

The Education Common Core (The Foundations component) should include

courses, such as, philosophy and history of education, psychology of education,

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

sociology of education, and comparative, global, or international education. The

courses in education common core establish the foundation of knowledge in

32

evidenced when the certificate, diploma or degree programmes is named, for

education science. Moreover, the common core attempts to enhance learners

understanding of educational knowledge in general, and, knowledge of
Malaysian education to enable students to locate education in system specific,
local context, and, to think critically about it.

The School Subject Content Component as in Appendix 5 is not presented

in the core module in this EPS. The Specialization Component is actually
subsumed within the specialization of any particular programme and is

instance, Certificate in Early Childhood Education, or Diploma in Early

Childhood Education, or Bachelor of Special Education or MA in Educational
Leadership and Management.

Educational Discipline Core Courses are determined by individual institutions

according to their needs on specific programmes. These courses provide the
basis for students understanding of the practices of teaching and learning,
assessment, pedagogical and content knowledge in specific subjects.
Professional practice is a practical component that is imperative in the education
of teachers. Professional Practice provides learners with opportunities to
integrate theory and practice. Scholar-teachers should be provided with
opportunities to observe experienced teachers teaching and be involved in a
wide range of school activities to understand teaching itself and reflect critically
on their practice. The courses should enable scholar-teachers to plan for,
undertake and experience class teaching-learning, and, assessment using a
wide range of strategies. Scholar-teachers should have relevant and optimum
opportunities to develop classroom, organisational and behaviour management

skills. In addition, scholar-teachers should be encouraged to seek and receive

advice and guidance in a supportive professional learning environment.

Elective Modules should be included in the program design at different levels.

An elective module aims at enriching educational foundation studies, catering to
learners personal and professional development according to the needs of the
individual learners. The courses in elective modules component are determined
according to the needs of the programme in respective institutions.

Compulsory Modules encompasses the subjects considered as a national

requirement or the requirement of the HEPs. The term Compulsory Module as
used here does not fall within the conceptualization of the five components of
education disciplines.

The Compulsory modules generally include courses to provide students with an

understanding of Malaysian culture, history, politics, ethnic relations, common
core national belongingness values, the educational system and socio-politico
and economic backgrounds, as well as language and communication skills and

Programme Structure and Delivery

The tables below represent the basic requirements for all levels of qualifications.
They indicate the body of knowledge required from Certificate to Doctoral degree, as
well as the allocation of credits and percentages at each level. These tables should
be read together with Appendix 4.

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

talent development.

33

A. CERTIFICATE
Table 1:
MINIMUM GRADUATING CREDIT 60
COMPONENT

CREDIT

PERCENTAGE

REMARKS

HEP Compulsory Courses

7-9

12-15

Please refer to MOEs

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

and HEPs Policies.

34

Education Foundation

12-18

20-30

Discipline Core

29-35

48-58

4-6

7-10

Professional Practice

Please refer to pages

7-11 of the text for body
of knowledge details
Attachment at relevant
workplace

Total

60

100

B. DIPLOMA
Table 2:
MINIMUM GRADUATING CREDIT 90
COMPONENT

CREDIT

PERCENTAGE

REMARKS

HEP Compulsory Courses

9-15

10-17

Please refer to MOEs

and HEPs Policies.

Education Foundation

15-27

17-30

Discipline Core

39-48

43-53

Professional Practice

6-15

7-17

Please refer to pages

7-11 of the text for body
of knowledge details
Attachment at relevant
workplace

Elective

0-6

0-7

Total

90

100

C. BACHELORS DEGREE
Table 3:
MINIMUM GRADUATING CREDIT - 120
COMPONENT
HEP Compulsory

CREDIT

PERCENTAGE

REMARKS

12-18

10-15

Please refer to MOEs and

HEPs Policies.

Courses
Education Foundation

21-30

17-25

Discipline Core

34-43

28-36

Please refer to pages 7-11

of the text for body of
knowledge details
School Subject Content or
Specialization

Professional Practice

8-14

7-12

Attachment at relevant
workplace

Elective

Related to
Discipline
Core *
Open**

Total

18-21

15-18

9-12

7-10

120

100

35
Note:
minor
** Open electives may be offered from within the broad area of education disciplines
or from other

disciplines.

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

* The discipline core is used interchangeably with major, and, elective with

D. POST GRADUATE CERTIFICATE

Table 4:

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

MINIMUM GRADUATING CREDIT 20*

COMPONENT

CREDIT

PERCENTAGE

REMARKS

Education Foundation

3-6

15-30

Please refer to pages 7-11

of the text for body of
knowledge details

Discipline Core

8-12

40-60

Professional Practice

2-4

10-20

Elective

2-3

10-15

Total

20

100

Attachment at relevant
workplace within or
beyond education and
training organizations.

Note:
* The Post Graduate Certificate is not a certification for classroom teaching, it is for
mastery of a specialization, for personal enhancement and enrichment in the field
of education.

36
E. POST GRADUATE DIPLOMA
Table 5:
MINIMUM GRADUATING CREDIT 30
COMPONENT

CREDIT

PERCENTAGE

REMARKS

Education Foundation

12-15

40-50

Please refer to pages 7-11

of the text for body of
knowledge details

Discipline Core

6-9

20-30

Professional Practice

3-6

10-20

Elective

3-6

10-20

Total

30

100

Attachment at relevant
workplace

F. MASTERS DEGREE BY COURSEWORK

Table 6:
MINIMUM GRADUATING CREDIT 40
COMPONENT

CREDIT

PERCENTAGE

REMARKS

Compulsory Courses

9-13

22-32

Discipline Core/Elective

15-25

38-63

e.g.:
Qualitative
and
Quantitative
Research
Methods; Seminar in
Education and Academic
and Professional Writing
Electives
from
the
discipline of education

Project Paper/Practicum/
Other Courses(for 100%
coursework)

6-12

15-30

40

100

Total

Note:
1. Coursework component must include courses in theory and research
methodology.
G. MASTERS DEGREE BY MIXED MODE

37

Table 7:

COMPONENT

CREDIT

PERCENTAGE

Compulsory Courses
12-20

30-50

20-28

50-70

40

100

Discipline Core/Elective
Dissertation
Total

REMARKS
e.g.:
Qualitative
and
Quantitative
Research
Methods; Seminar in
Education and Academic
and Professional Writing
Electives
from
the
discipline of education

Note:
1.
2.

Coursework component must include courses in theory and research

methodology.
Ratio of coursework to dissertation is 50:50 or 40:60 or 30:70.

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

MINIMUM GRADUATING CREDIT 40

H. MASTERS DEGREE BY RESEARCH

Table 8:

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

MINIMUM GRADUATING CREDIT no given credit value

38

COMPONENT

REMARKS

Dissertation

1. Candidates must have followed a research methodology

course
2. The following requirements must be decided by HEP:
a) Relevant prerequisite courses
b) Maximum period of candidature
c) Format of the dissertation
3. The recommended length of dissertation: minimum 50,000
60,000 words

I. DOCTOR OF EDUCATION DEGREE BY COURSEWORK

Table 9:
MINIMUM GRADUATING CREDIT 80
COMPONENT

CREDIT

PERCENTAGE

REMARKS

Compulsory Courses

12-15

15-19

Discipline Core/Elective

30-38

37-47

e.g.:
Qualitative
and
Quantitative
Research
Methods;
Seminar
in
Education and Academic
and Professional Writing
Electives from the discipline
of education

Thesis

30-35

38-44

80

100

Total

J. DOCTORAL DEGREE BY MIXED MODE

Table 10:
MINIMUM GRADUATING CREDIT 80
COMPONENT

CREDIT

PERCENTAGE

Compulsory Courses
24-40

30-50

40-56

50-70

80

100

Discipline Core/Elective
Thesis
Total

REMARKS
e.g.:
Qualitative
and
Quantitative
Research
Methods;
Seminar
in
Education and Academic
and Professional Writing
Electives from the discipline
of education

Note:
1.
2.
3.

Coursework component must include courses in theory and research

methodology.
Ratio of coursework to dissertation is 50:50 or 40:60 or 30:70.
The recommended length of theses: minimum 60,000 70,000.

K. DOCTORAL DEGREE BY RESEARCH

Table 11:
MINIMUM GRADUATING CREDIT no given credit value
COMPONENT

REMARKS

Thesis

1. Candidates must have followed a research methodology

course
2. The following requirements must be decided by HEP:
a) Relevant prerequisite courses
b) Maximum period of candidature
c) Format of the dissertation
3. The recommended length of dissertation: minimum 80,000
100,000 words

Criteria and Guidelines for Curriculum Delivery

Curriculum delivery focuses on the process to engage students in a designed

The delivery of curriculum is crucial since it has direct impact on students learning
and achievement of expected learning outcomes. The delivery strategies of the
programme should be in coherent alignment with educational philosophies,
curriculum content and assessment processes. It should be based on established
and mature theories, such as, constructivism or inquiry- discovery learning, mastery
and accelerated learning theories, behaviorism theories, motivation theories, brainbased theories, social cognition theories, et cetera.

Delivery Strategies

The delivery of the programme may involve the use of approaches, strategies and
techniques that include lectures, seminars, tutorials, invited/visiting speakers,
workshops, use of online resources, e-learning, mobile learning, open book, peer
presentations, study groups, project work, project-based learning, fieldwork, practical
work, problem-based learning, research-based learning, viva voce, analysis of media

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

programme to achieve expected learning outcomes of the programme (MQA, 2010).

39

materials, microteaching, ICT based interactive learning,

inquiry-based learning,

action learning, independent studies and other approaches, strategies and methods
which may be applied by the creative, imaginative, and innovative scholar-teacher.

Professional practice, integrating theory and practice, along with mentoring,

collaborating, and cooperating strategies of teacher support, is the main strategy that
should be used to meet the time-tested standards of the teaching profession. The

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

professional practice component enables the scholar-teacher to acquire knowledge

40

and teaching skills in a real-life setting at the workplace. This component can be
delivered through school-based experiences, microlaboratory teaching, practicum
and internship. Its delivery can be appropriately sequenced at various points in the
programme to ensure the spiral and developmental nature of the curriculum. For
example, scholar-teachers as students could be exposed to school-based
experiences in the first year of study, followed by practicum in the subsequent years,
and, finally internship in the final year. Such a course of study ensures that the
scholar-teacher student is given the opportunity to bridge the gap between theory and
practice in a progressive and constructive manner, building robust professional
acumen of knowledge corpus cumulatively.

Four stages of effective curriculum delivery

There are four stages involved in effective curriculum delivery cycle, that is, plan,
deliver, assess, and evaluate (MQA, 2010). (See Appendix 8)

First, during the planning stage, adequate resources should be allocated for delivery
modes, and sufficient training and support should be provided to ensure that the
learner and the academic staff are familiar with the different delivery methods. A
variety of techniques should be used in the delivery of the programme according to
the structure of the programme such as, lecture,

action learning, self-directed

learning, cooperative learning (problem-based learning, project-based learning),

technology-based delivery (e.g., using online methods, tele-conferences and mobile
systems), experiential learning (e.g., field work, on-site learning), and work-based
learning (e.g., industrial training, practicum, work attachments). Moreover, delivery
methods should be combined and used to serve the different purposes of different

programme stages. Delivery strategies should be aligned to educational philosophies,

curriculum content, and assessment processes.

Second, delivery methods should be mapped against the eight MQF learning
outcome domains (MQA, 2010).For example, the domain of values, attitudes and
professionalism, are more suitable for work-based learning methods (e.g., work
attachment); for the domain of knowledge, a combined use of lecture, tutorial,
discussions, debates, forums, presentations, seminars, demonstrative teaching, and
field trips are more appropriate.

Third, various assessment techniques should be employed to ensure that learners

had actually been enabled to master theory and practice through .effective delivery
methods. For example, for technology based delivery mode, discussions and
conversations in electronic and digital mediums can be used to assess learning
progress; for experiential learning, the approach most suitable are direct observation
by the scholar-teacher at the worksite, and assessment of reports and learning logs
produced by the learners.

41
learning and teaching activities so as to further develop the scholar-teacher and
simultaneously improve the programmes. Evaluation activities are to be undertaken
at all levels of teaching and learning processes, including, evaluation of lesson plans,
class schedules, and, particularly, student performance.

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

Fourth, quality programmes require continuous monitoring and review of the previous

5. ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT LEARNING

institutional assessment efforts should not be concerned about valuing what can
be measured, but, instead about measuring that which is valued
~Banta, T. W
Student assessment is a crucial aspect of quality assurance because it drives
student learning. It is one of the most important measures to show the achievement
PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

of learning outcomes. The result of assessment is also the basis in awarding

42

qualifications. Hence, methods of student assessment have to be clear, consistent,

effective, reliable and in line with current practices and must clearly support the
achievement of learning outcomes (COPPA, 2008, pp.15).

Specific methods of assessment to be used will depend on the specific requirements

of particular modules, both academic and co-curricular. However, as a general guide,
the following Assessment Principles should be considered, and, as appropriate
adhered to:

1.

Summative and formative assessments, norm referenced and criterion

referenced assessment should be used together;

2.

Assessment could be based on a learning taxonomy, such as, Blooms

Taxonomy; or Anderson & Krathwohls Taxonomy ;

3.

HEPs should

continue to use current assessment modes of essay,

objective test, and initiative evidence and demonstration of work through

the digital media assessment mode;
4.

Student intellectual and generic skills should be assessed using various

appropriate

modes

of

assessment,

psychomotor and affective domains

encompassing

cognitive,

and using measures ,of

self-

assessment and peer evaluation, and, when available and appropriate,

to develop use culturally valid and reliable standardized testing
instruments;
5.

Practical skills should be assessed continuously with or without final

examinations, in modules requiring practical skills. (A pass in practical
work is compulsory. A pass implies that the examiner is satisfied that the
student has met the learning outcomes of the particular subject);

6.

The types of assessments indicated below are merely examples. Higher

Education Providers (HEPs) are encouraged to use a variety of methods
and tools appropriate for the learning outcomes and competencies which
should be measured;
Generally, students shall be evaluated where appropriate through:

Examination
Closed/Open book, Take-home, Viva Voce, Mid Term, written

test;

Coursework
Assignments, Quiz, Laboratory Report;
-- Other kinds of Reports, Journals, Logs

Projects
Individual/Group, Long/Short; and

Others
Class Participation, Group Activities, Presentation, Portfolio

7. Valid and reliable, creative and innovative means of evaluating co-curricular

skills at different levels of attainment, accomplishment and achievements;
and

For Masters and Doctoral Degree by Research only:

1.

Formative assessment must include:

i.

Monitoring of research progress periodically (for example, through a

proposal defense and progress report)
This will assess candidates knowledge, critical thinking skills,
practical, technical, professional, scientific and problems solving
skills, consideration of the ethical aspects of the research endeavor
as well as attitudes towards research culture.

ii.

Research presentation/colloquium/seminar/workshop.
This will enhance candidates communication skills, teamwork,
leadership,

organisational

skills,

lifelong

learning

and

professionalism.

2.

Summative assessment is used to assess all learning outcomes of a

masters programme, and must include:

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

8. Competency-based assessment should be used where appropriate.

43

i.

completion of prescribed courses;

ii.

dissertation; and

iii. viva voce (if required by HEP).

3.

Summative assessment is used to assess all learning outcomes of a

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

doctoral programme, and must include:

44

i.

Completion of prescribed courses;

ii.

Thesis; and

iii. Viva voce.

Suggested breakdown of assessment weightage and percentage for each level of

award, from Certificate to Doctoral Degree awards are as given below:

Qualifications

Continuous
Assessment
(%)

Final Assessment
(%)

Suggested Method
Required

Certificate

50-70

30-50

Diploma

30-70

30-70

Bachelors
Degree

40-70

30-60

Written
Assessment
Practical
Assessment
Oral Assessment
/Presentation
Internship/Project
Portfolios or ePortfolios
Written
Assessment
Practical
Assessment
Oral Assessment
/Presentation
Internship/Project
Portfolios or ePortfolios
Written
Assessment
Practical
Assessment
Oral Assessment
/Presentation
Internship/Field
work
Project

Qualifications

Continuous
Assessment
(%)

Final Assessment
(%)

Suggested Method
Required

Portfolios or ePortfolios

Written
Assessment
Oral Assessment
/Presentation
Internship
Portfolios or ePortfolios

Post Graduate
Certificate

40-70

30-60

Post Graduate
Diploma

30-70

30-70

30-70

30-70

Masters
Degree by
Mixed Mode

30-70

30-70

Masters
Degree by
Research

Written
Assessment
Seminar
Presentation
Project Paper
Portfolios or ePortfolios
Written
Assessment
Seminar
Presentation
Dissertation
Viva Voce (if
required by the
HEP)
Portfolios or ePortfolios
Seminar
Presentation
Dissertation
Viva Voce (if
required by the
HEP)
Portfolios or ePortfolios

45
PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

Masters
Degree by
Coursework
[Some
individual
courses can be
100%
Coursework]

Written
Assessment
Oral Assessment
/Presentation
Practicum/Interns
hip
Portfolios or ePortfolios

Qualifications

Continuous
Assessment
(%)

Final Assessment
(%)

Suggested Method
Required

Doctoral
Degree
by Mixed Mode

30-70

30-70

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

Doctor of
Education

46

Doctoral
Degree
by Research

Seminar
Presentation
Thesis
Viva Voce
Publications in
journals
Portfolios or ePortfolios
Seminar
Presentation
Thesis
Viva Voce
Publications in
journals
Portfolios or ePortfolios

In specific cases there may be exceptions regarding assessment protocols and

weightage. The guiding principles are that of thoughtful, reasoned flexibility, and,
attainment of the learning outcomes, based on professional and academic discretion
of the Higher Education Provider. As a general guideline, continuous assessment
should not be more than 70%, and the Final Examination should not be more than
70%. However, there are courses which can carry 100% Course work and Courses
which can carry 100% Final Examinations. Whatever the case, the distribution,
credibility, consistency, fairness, objectivity, transparency, clarity of audit tracking,
and quality of the assessment must not be compromised. A useful seminal reference
for technical information of standards as primary, secondary, conditional and
desirable, covering contexts and purposes of test development is the AERA
Standards. The Standards cover standards on test construction, evaluation and
documentation, fairness in testing, rights and responsibilities of test takers and users,
testing applications in program evaluation and public policy. In Educational
assessment, distinctions are made among types of tests and assessment, measuring
change, stakes of testing, individualized and special needs testing. (American
Educational Research Association, et. al.
Psychological Testing, 2002).

Standards for Educational and

Note:
Composition of dissertation/thesis examiners are as follows:
1.

Masters Degree by Mixed Mode

The dissertation is to be examined by at least two examiners.

2.

Masters Degree by Research

The dissertation is to be examined by at least two examiners, one of whom is
an external examiner.

3.

Doctoral Degree by Mixed Mode

The thesis is to be examined by at least two examiners, one of whom is an
external examiner.

4.

Doctoral Degree by Research

The Thesis is to be examined by at least three examiners, two of whom are
external examiners.

47
PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

6. STUDENT SELECTION
One mark of a great educator is the ability to lead students out to new places where
even the educator has never been
~Thomas Groom
This section of the education programme standards concerns the recruitment of
students into the individual programme of study. In general, admission policies of the
PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

programme need to comply with the established policies of the Malaysian Ministry of

48

Education (MOE).
There are varying views on the best method of student selection. Whatever the
methods used, the Higher Education Provider (HEP) must be able to justify and
defend the coherence and consistency of its policies. The number of students to be
admitted to the programme is determined by the capacity of the HEP and the number
of qualified applicants. HEP admission and retention policies must not be
compromised for the sole purpose of maintaining a desired enrolment. If an HEP
operates geographically separated campuses or if the programme is a collaborative
one, the selection and assignment of all students must be consistent with national
policies (COPPA, 2008, pp.17).

The benchmarked standards for recruitment of students into education programmes

are provided below. The Standards are created keeping in mind the generic National
Education and National Higher Education Policies pertaining to minimum student
entry requirements. Higher Education Providers must take cognisance of and indicate
in a transparent manner, any specific policies that may apply to their individual
institutions. The entry requirements to all programmes, particularly professional
programmes, must be constantly reviewed. The nations vision of becoming a leader
in knowledge generation and contribute to the advancement of contemporary
knowledge heritage and contemporary civilization can be more quickly realized when
its institutions of higher education admit the very best of well prepared, ready and
willing learners with good academic potentialities, to its various faculties and
programmes. It is to be noted that as Malaysia develops as the preferred provider of
higher education globally, the bar of minimum entry requirements will be raised. In
addition, HEPs should continue to take cognisance that teaching [Education] is a
profession, and, like all other professions, only those who demonstrate high

predictability to be a significant contributing member to the profession should be

admitted. To this end, HEPs can institute other additional requirements beyond
minimum entry requirements, to select the most appropriate candidates for their
professional programmes. HEPs may even interview their candidates or conduct
challenge examinations to fine tune their search for the potentially successful
scholar-teacher who would eventually enrich the learning experiences of learners,
and, enhance the standards of their education programmes through the contributions
of the scholar-teachers themselves.

The minimum standards are as follows:

CERTIFICATE

i.

A pass in Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) or its equivalent, with a minimum of

one (1) credit in any subject;
OR

ii.

A pass in Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia (SKM) level 2 and pass SPM

49

i.

A pass in SPM or its equivalent, with a minimum of three (3) credits in any
subject;
OR

ii.

A pass in Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) or its equivalent, with a

minimum of Grade C (GP 2.00) in any subject or its equivalent;
OR

iii. A pass in Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM) with a minimum grade of
Maqbul or its equivalent;
OR
iv. A pass in SKM level 3 and pass SPM with one (1) credit;
OR
v.

A Certificate or its equivalent.

.

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

DIPLOMA

BACHELORS DEGREE

i.

A pass in Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) or its equivalent, with a

minimum of Grade C (GPA 2.00) in any two (2) subjects;
OR

ii.

A pass in Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM) with a minimum grade of

Jayyid ;

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

OR

50

iii. A Diploma or its equivalent, with a minimum CGPA of 2.00 ;

OR
iv. Matriculation/Foundation or its equivalent, with a minimum CGPA of 2.00.

POST GRADUATE CERTIFICATE/DIPLOMA

i.

A Bachelors Degree or its equivalent, with a minimum CGPA of 2.50, as

accepted by the HEPs Senate;
OR

ii.

A Bachelors Degree or its equivalent, not meeting CGPA of 2.50, can be

accepted subject to a minimum of five (5) years working experience in a
relevant field.

MASTERS DEGREE BY COURSEWORK

i.

A Bachelors Degree or its equivalent, with a minimum CGPA of 2.50, as

accepted by the HEPs Senate;
OR

ii.

A Bachelors Degree or its equivalent, not meeting CGPA of 2.50, can be

accepted subject to a minimum of five (5) years working experience in a
relevant field.

MASTERS DEGREE BY MIXED MODE AND BY RESEARCH

i.

A Bachelors Degree or its equivalent, with a minimum CGPA of 2.75, as

accepted by the HEPs Senate;
OR

ii.

A Bachelors Degree or its equivalent, with a minimum CGPA of 2.50 and not
meeting CGPA of 2.75, can be accepted subject to rigorous internal
assessment;
OR

iii. A Bachelors Degree or its equivalent, not meeting CGPA of 2.50, can be
accepted subject to a minimum of five (5) years working experience in a
relevant field.

DOCTORAL DEGREE (BY RESEARCH OR BY MIXED MODE) OR DOCTOR OF

EDUCATION DEGREE

i.

A Masters Degree, as accepted by the HEPs Senate;

OR

ii.

Other qualifications equivalent to a Masters Degree, as accepted by the

HEP Senate.

Note for PhD by Research:

There shall be no direct entry from Bachelors Degree level to PhD level.

ii.

Candidates registered for Masters Degree programmes with at least CGPA

of 3.67 at Bachelors Degree level may apply to convert their candidacy to
the PhD programmes subject to:
a)

having shown competency and capability in conducting research at PhD

level.

b)

approval by the HEPs Senate.

51
PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

i.

7. ACADEMIC STAFF
It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and
knowledge
~ Albert Einstein

The quality of the academic staff is one of the most important components in

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

assuring the quality of higher education and thus every effort must be made to
establish proper and effective recruitment, service, development and appraisal
policies that are conducive to staff productivity (COPPA, 2008, pp.21).

Malaysia has set the agenda to develop education hubs, in many different geographic
locations in the country, and, strategically, strive to become the Centre of Educational
Excellence in the Region. In 2010 Malaysia was ranked by Business Week as
number 11 in terms of foreign student preference, choice and enrolment. Malaysia,
has also, for instance, been ranked as the worlds 43rd most prosperous nation
overall, 8th in Economy and 40th in Education, based on, the Legatum Prosperity
Index 2013 (Legatum Institute 2013; www.prosperity.com). Other Indexes provide

52

evidence of somewhat similar trends regarding the progress of the nation. To

continue to create, develop and distribute wealth, the nations human resources,
competencies and talents must be continuously developed. The Education sector is
the centre of such strategic efforts and agenda. In all domains, measures are taken to
raise educational standards, so that Malaysia can be competitive globally.
Universities and other educational institutions have set increasingly higher standards
of excellence. To this end, Higher Education Providers (HEPs) are expected to make
preparations to continuously raise the academic qualifications of the teaching staff so
that every academic staff acquires a Masters or a Doctoral Degree. Only in
exceptional cases should the HEP use the services of those who have relevant
experiences but possess lower academic qualifications. HEPs should formulate and
implement a policy of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for full-time staff
according to their specialisation needs, with at least 2 weeks of relevant training per
year.

The following sections provide benchmarked requirements of academic staff

qualifications in order to be eligible to teach at

the various levels of education

qualifications.

CERTIFICATE AND DIPLOMA

Minimum qualifications of Academic staff:

Bachelors Degree in relevant or related field; OR

Diploma in relevant or related fields with 10 years of related working experience,

including teaching experience or certified by competent authority. (The
programme should not employ more than 20 % of staff in this category)

There are people in the Vocational and Technical fields of studies who have
relevant experiences, and mastery of professional knowledge, but do not have
academic qualifications. The Higher Education Providers should establish
assessment and evaluation criteria in transparent ways and justify objectively
that such experts who are hard to come by, should be duly recognized.
Overall Staff - Student ratio 1:20

Full-time and Part-time faculty At least 60% are full-time

BACHELORS DEGREE

Minimum qualification of academic staff:

Masters Degree in relevant or related fields OR

Bachelors Degree in relevant or related fields with five years of related working
experience, including teaching experience.
(The programme should not employ more than 20% of the staff in this category).

Overall Staff - Student ratio 1:15

Full-time and Part-time teaching faculty At least 60% full-time

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

53

MASTERS DEGREE (by Research or by Mixed Mode and Coursework)

/POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE & DIPLOMA

Minimum qualification of academic staff/supervisor:

Doctoral Degree in relevant or related area; OR
Masters Degree in relevant or related fields with five years experience in

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

teaching and research, or as co-supervisor;

54

The additional criteria are subjected to the approval of the HEP Senate.

Supervisor requirement:
i.

When there is one supervisor, the supervisor must be a full-time

staff of the conferring HEP

ii.

When there is more than one supervisor, the principal supervisor

must be a full-time staff of the conferring HEP.

Overall Staff - Student ratio 1:10

Overall Supervisor - Student ratio 1:10

Full-time and Part-time teaching faculty At least 60% of full-time staff/faculty.

DOCTORAL DEGREE (by Research or Mixed Mode)/ Doctor of Education

Minimum qualification of academic staff:

Doctoral Degree in relevant or related area with two years experience in
teaching and research, or as a co-supervisor: OR
Where a staff is without the required qualification, extensive experience in
research and supervision are additional criteria and are subject to the
approval of the HEPs Senate.

Overall Staff - Student ratio 1:10

Overall Supervisor - Student ratio 1:10

The Principal Project Supervisor must be a full-time lecturer of the HEP; OR

An Academician from another institution approved by the Faculty or Department
or Centre offering the Programme.*

* Note:
Only under exceptional circumstances, can an Adjunct Professor in the
university or an academician

from another recognized institution of higher

learning or an expert in the field who is not an Adjunct Professor or full-time

academician be approved by the Faculty, Department, Centre or Institute to act
as the Principal Supervisor.

The exceptional case is when the Doctoral

Research Problem is a significant aspect of the overall research endeavour of

the University, or, part of a multidisciplinary or trans-disciplinary initiative and the
university does not have the expertise at that point of decision-making, and /or
for some other rationale deemed important to the University.

55
PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

8. EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort,
intelligent direction, and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many
alternatives.
~ William A. Foster

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

Adequate educational resources are necessary to support the teaching-learning

activities of the programme. These resources include finance, expertise, physical
infrastructure, information and communications technology, and research facilities.
The physical facilities of a programme are largely guided by the needs of the specific
field of study (COPPA, 2008, pp.23).

To support teaching and learning in the Education Programmes, Higher Education

Providers [HEPs] must provide sufficient resources as follows:
1.

Finance
Budget allocations that are regular and adequate for personnel, physical

56

infrastructure (teaching and learning spaces, and equipment), information

and communications technology infostructure, research support, materials,
and supplies, all of which could severally or collectively, cumulatively,
contribute to sustain the programme.
2.

Educational Expertise
Educational experts and specialists who are available, and, used in planning
programmes such as designing and reviewing

the curriculum, selecting

relevant contents, developing teaching and learning methods, advising on

the assessment modes, building staff capacity and conducting educational
research and providing consultancy services.

3.

Physical Infrastructure
Space impacts teaching and learning, whether those spaces are explicitly
considered or not (Strange & Banning, 2001). The wider use of new
technologies and the exploitation of web-based services in the education
sector have their implications for the Teaching and Learning Spaces (TLS) of

the 21st century. If not done so by the HEPs, physical spaces (or real TLS)
such as traditional classrooms and lecture theatres should be redesigned to
accommodate the use of ICT and mobile devices that are integrated to
support the teaching learning approaches. In fact, the emergence of online
learning, e-learning and mobile learning has revolutionised TLS and driven
reconceptualization of educational processes. TLS (especially virtual TLS)
are more flexible to cater for personalized learning environments, such as
virtual learning environments and such advances require appropriate
Content Learning System (CLS) Learning Management Systems (LMS) ,
including, mobile and immersive learning environments. The use of such
innovative protocols and approaches broadens and enriches learning
experiences through blended learning approaches (which combine virtual
and mobile as well as traditional face-to-face learning experiences),
experiential learning, exploratory learning and problem-based learning. Real
and virtual TLS can be combined and integrated with new technologies to
deliver seamless learning experiences. Whatever the types and nature of
teaching and learning spaces required of a programme, the HEP must
ensure that the TLS are appropriate, safe, adequate, exciting and effective.

infrastructure as follows:

Appropriate, safe and adequate physical facilities (lecture rooms, tutorial

rooms,

science

laboratories,

computer

laboratories,

workshops,

microteaching rooms, corridor spaces for learning, learning enclaves, and

other learning spaces, recreational and sports facilities, academic offices
and campus cafeteria wifi, et cet tera.) that comply with relevant laws and
regulations, including, caring for the needs of persons with disabilities
consistent with the mandates of the Malaysian Persons with Disabilities Act
(PWDA) 2008. ICT and infostructure facilities and access should be
continuously upgraded and there should be the agenda to keep pace and
even lead, with the latest innovations and inventions.

The HEP should develop and take measures to ensure an ecologically

responsible environment, with a keen sense of educational aesthetics and
cultural diversity and richness.

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

Higher Education Providers (HEPs) must ensure the provisions of basic

57

Appropriate security systems must be in place to ensure a safe and secure

environment for all.

Appropriate and up-to-date infostructure must be provided to ensure that

every learner citizen has access to technological and digital services.

There should be appropriate aesthetic elements, indoor and outdoor, which

enhance the conduciveness of the physical teaching and learning
environments, including, overall cleanliness, (particularly, toilet facilities,

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

cafeteria and community spaces), and proper maintenance of the physical

environment benchmarked with the highest international health standards.

There should be equipment and evolving educational materials that are

appropriate, accessible and adequate that meets the required current
standards for the programme. Equipment must be maintained in good
working order and support services must be in place and be readily
available.

The Higher Education Providers [HEPs] must ensure the availability of

schools (such as Teaching Schools, preschools (including tadika), child-care
centres (including taska) and Foster Schools, Experimental Schools, which
are suitable for professional practice and, practical training, practicum and

58

internship for school-based experiences for the scholar-teacher learners.

4.

Resource Centre and Learning Resources

The HEP must ensure the following provisions for its Resource Centre:

A well-maintained resource centre that is adequate in volume of holdings of

seminal and significant works in print and in digital media, and, up-todate
information communications technology system be established to support
the programme.

Appropriate services that are accessible and effective that include but are
not limited to:
i.

Reference services;

ii.

Providing access (such as indexing, cataloguing, and development

of search terms and methodologies) to the resource centres
collection;

iii.

Inter-resource centre loans and documents delivery service;

iv.

Access to electronic resources and database;

v.

Digital/Electronic

reference services, direct reference service via

email and telephone;

vi.

Facilitating instruction to enhance learner's information-seeking

skills (e.g. research and bibliographic skills, et cet tera.); and

vii.

Programmes and activities that inculcate high ethics and a culture of

respect for intellectual property, and, policies which foster the
building

of legal literacies, and

the

enculturation, [through

established mechanisms] of academic practices curbing and

preventing plagiarism.
The resource centre and information services staff must be well trained and
be responsive to the needs of the scholar-teacher learners and the
requirements of the programme in any particular semester and for the
immediate future.

5.

Information and Communications Technology

Higher Education Providers should provide Information and Communications

59

Technology (ICT) (infostructure) services that are adequate for both the

future. HEPs must provide infrastructure, infostructure and other facilities

which include, but are not limited to,

i.

Sufficient and suitable up-to-date hardware and software resources

and infrastructure to support the teaching, scholarship, research and
consultancy services ,and, the administrative needs of the
programme;

ii.

Sufficient and qualified technical support staff, and, appropriate

workspaces; and

iii.

Adequate

financial

resources

to

adopt

and

maintain

new

technologies as appropriate.
iv.

HEPs must be supportive of innovations and creative efforts by staff

and students, particularly of scholar-teachers in the programme.

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

current programme and for programme changes anticipated in the immediate

6.

Research Facilities
Higher Education Providers [HEPs] must provide appropriate, safe and
adequate facilities (including real and virtual TLS) for their staff and students
as they set out to conduct their research initiatives and endeavours. A
research-active environment must be supported by relevant policies on
research and adequate facilities to sustain initiatives. Staff and learners must

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

engage in research, development, innovation and commercialisation within

60

HEPs and in collaboration with other partner institutions.

7.

Publications and Body of Works

HEPs are expected to provide opportunities and incentives for staff and
scholar-teachers to publish their works in print and digitally in institutional,
national and international journals. The research works of staff and scholarteachers which constitute the intellectual and academic treasures of the
institutions are to be kept in some retrievable modes for reference and use
by others.

8.

Educational Exchanges
In moving forward, based on the National Educational Blueprint 2013-2025,
the National Strategic Plan for Higher Education, and based on their own
Strategic Plans, [HEPs] must be prepared to meet the challenges of
globalization, liberalization and internationalisation towards the achievement
of such goals with a sense of urgency, HEPs are required to internationalize
teaching staff and scholar-teacher learners, as well. A potential initiative [with
appropriate mechanisms] is for HEPs to create international educational
exchange programmes.

Developed countries like the United States had

started similar efforts in the 1940s by establishing the Fulbright International

Educational Exchange Program under the State Department, and through
independent bodies such as The Council on International Educational
Exchange (CIEE). Other developed countries throughout the world have also
implemented such exchanges. Such programmes provide opportunities for
learners and the faculty to study in other countries whilst inviting their
counterparts in other host countries to study in their institutions.

In the US, Higher Education Providers [HEPs] participated in these projects

by becoming members of organisations such as the CIEE. In Malaysia,
universities like Universiti Sains Malaysia has joined the Commonwealth
Universities Study Abroad Consortium, established in 1993, which also
includes the participation of universities from other parts of the world.
Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris - UPSI has begun such programmes [as
also some other universities.]. All institutions should continue to expand the
qualitative as well as the quantitative impact of the programme. Other HEPs
can undertake similar initiatives in their own unique ways, mindful of
contexts.

HEPs have to continue to initiate and develop partnerships through

Memoranda of Understanding (MOU), Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) and
other types of cooperative articulations with foreign participating universities.
The HEPs can then become hosts to international students and scholars, as
well as provide opportunities for their scholar-teachers to study in foreign
institutions, and for faculty members to participate as visiting scholars in
participating universities. The Exchange Program will allow students to

attending equivalent courses that are acceptable for credit transfers. This
process will enable scholar-teachers to participate in the exchange
programmes without having to extend the completion time of their own
degree programmes. It is noted that many HEPs, including, those in the
private sector have already implemented such initiatives during the last
several years. There may also be courses with no credit transfers which will
nevertheless enhance the scholar-teacher learners academic, professional,
cultural, and life experiences.

Finance for such exchange programmes could be structured under a

reciprocal agreement such that students will pay tuition fees to their home
institutions and yet have full access to resources provided by host
institutions. Full or partial scholarships could be offered to eligible students to
help cover their travelling, housing and living expenses in the host country.
Students could also participate in the exchange programme through selffunding.

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

spend one semester, and, up to one year in participating institutions,

61

HEPs must have in place an International Student Department that will

provide services, which include, but are not limited to:

Assistance with student visa application before coming to the country and at
other times when travelling in and out of Malaysia;

Orientation programmes to acclimatize visiting students to the local

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

environment and culture;

Assistance with course registration at the beginning of the semester;

Reception at airports to facilitate students welcome at ports of entry and

departure;

Engage Liaison officers to help and support visiting scholar-teachers

,students, especially in case of, and, during emergencies;

Assistance in securing on-campus and off-campus accommodation;

Organization for appropriate

and systematically planned activities to

encourage familiarization and empathy with the local culture; and

Detailed interactive instructions, advice and recommendations on the HEPs

website with feedback and evaluation forms.

62

Under the Faculty Exchange Program, foreign academicians can be invited

as Visiting Professors, Lecturers or Scholars to Malaysian universities,
Teachers Education Institutes, and vice versa. Various categories of Visiting
Scholars can be involved in teaching courses, collaborating in research,
providing consultancy services and giving lectures related to his or her areas
of expertise.

HEPs are encouraged to prepare Road Maps regarding Student and Staff
Exchanges as an aspect of continuous and sustainable people development
and institutional development initiatives. This proactive position taken by the
HEPs will foster wider scope of internationalisation and the constructive
engagement with significant partners to enhance knowledge sharing
activities and collaborate to face the challenges of globalisation.

9.

Scholar-Teacher and Student Support Services

HEPs must provide scholar-teacher support services which include, but are
not limited to, induction programmes for local and international students,
counselling services, health and medical services and students advisory
board [including digital boards] on academic matters. These services should
be accessible to all students.

CERTIFICATE, DIPLOMA AND BACHELORS DEGREE

Educational resources to be provided by HEPs according to the various levels are:

Suitable teaching and learning spaces (with sufficient audio visual facilities and
appropriate new technologies) in sufficient numbers, and, of appropriate size to
permit reasonable scheduling for all lectures and classes and to provide sufficient
opportunities for learners to use such facilities and technologies.
Sufficient spaces suitable for individual or group study and other forms of
collaborative work.
Specialised laboratories according to the needs of the programme (e.g. Science
Laboratories, Workshops and Media rooms).

Cafes.
Resource Centre (including online resources).
Internet Access (including the latest technologies).
Preschool and schools for Professional Practice (including for Practicum,
Internship, School-Based Experience, et cetera).
Sufficient access to relevant software, hardware, and other materials according to
the needs of the students and programme.

POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE/DIPLOMA, MASTER AND DOCTORAL DEGREE

Suitable learning spaces (with sufficient audio visual facilities and appropriate
new technologies) in sufficient numbers and size to permit reasonable scheduling
for all lectures and classes and to provide sufficient opportunities for learners to
use such facilities and technologies.
Sufficient space suitable for individual or group study and other forms of
collaborative work

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

Microteaching Rooms and Computer Laboratories or Computer/Cyber/Internet

63

 Specialised laboratories according to the needs of the programme (e.g. Science

Laboratories, Workshops, Domestic Science Rooms, and Media rooms.)
Resource Centre (including online resources)
Internet Access (including the latest technologies)
Research laboratories
Study, Discussion, and Seminar Rooms
Relevant specialised software and hardware according to the needs of the
PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

programme and students

64

Overall, HEPs should take the initiative to ensure the ambience of a university is
experienced by all, through its presentations of mindscapes, landscapes, interior
decorations, use of space, all of which should inspire, and enhance learning, promote
high quality of intellectual living and learning..
(Strange, C. C. & Banning, J. H. (2001). Educating by design: Creating campus
learning environments that work. San Francisco: Jossey Bass)

9. PROGRAMME MONITORING AND REVIEW

In a true zero defect approach, there are no unimportant items.
Quality is the result of a carefully constructed cultural environment. It is to be the
fabric of the organization, not part of the fabric
~ Philip Crosby
The Programme Standards in Education provides Guidelines to HEPs to develop and
offer Education Programmes which assure that the quality of provision and standards
of quality in the management of education are being safeguarded and enhanced. In
order to promote and maintain continuous quality enhancement, and public
confidence, the Education Programmes must be regularly reviewed and checked
based on

robust evaluation and feedback protocols. Such reviews include the

monitoring, reviewing and evaluating of institutional structures, governance,

processes, policies, procedures, rules, regulations and guidelines.

Information

derived from evaluation, monitoring and review processes should be used to ,

improve, develop, shape and assure the positive conduciveness of the teaching and
learning environments.

MQA Areas of Evaluation and can be conducted as cyclical processes or can be

focused independently, depending on the particular needs which emerge based on
the evidence of feedback. HEPs will need to ensure the practice and process of the
culture of excellence are internalized and routinized. MRE may also be conducted as
necessary contingency actions when the needs arise.
Monitoring and Review
Processes for monitoring and reviewing Higher Education Providers academic
programmes must be part of the HEPs Quality Assurance Framework. Monitoring
and review are also used to help in the selection and design of future programmes.
Evaluation studies will assess the extent to which the programmes produced the
intended impacts (for example, better academic performance, or increases in student
generated creative works and joy of learning, et cet tera.), and the equitable
distribution of the benefits between different groups of learners. Such feedback will
also help to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of on-going programmes as compared

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

The processes of monitoring, reviewing and evaluating [MRE] can cover all the 9

65

with other programme options. This type of activity is performed while a programme
is being implemented, with the aim of improving the programme design and
functioning while in action, as a quality improvement rolling plan. It is also an
effective way for HEPs to check and rectify shortcomings and take corrective actions
in various aspects of their systems in terms of delivery, efficiency, strengths and
weaknesses. Monitoring and review are meant to:

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

66

Evaluate the performance of programme outcomes, the quality of learning

opportunities and the institutional capacity and management of standards
and quality;

Ensure intense scrutiny and transparency of the processes of academic

review through the use of nationally agreed guidelines on criteria and
standards, specified by a Qualifications Framework and procedures for
quality assurance;

Report and make available objective and independent information on the

reviews.

Note: Monitoring refers to semester, term or annual monitoring of courses

including significant course components or academic offerings. Review refers to
course reviews, normally undertaken on a 3 or a 5 year cycle, including reviews
of significant course components or academic offerings
Monitoring & Review tools
The following tools are usually applied in the on-going monitoring and review of
projects:

monitoring visits at practicum or simulation sites

meetings with programme partners and stakeholders

narrative reporting

financial reporting

other monitoring instruments, such as self-reporting instruments.

Narrative reporting
Depending on the programme duration, a report may be in the following format:

Semi-annual progress report(s). A narrative document focusing

on implementation of activities, major achievements, problems faced and
solutions found.

Programme

completion

report.

A report providing

an

analysis

of

achievements of programme, including objectives, design, impact and

sustainability. It enables identification of noting positive elements

and

negative aspects to be prevented or overcome, as valuable lessons learned.

Meetings with partners
As follow- through actions to visits at field or site level, there must be regular
meetings with programme partners to discuss progress in implementation and
obstacles encountered, and to take immediate corrective actions,.

67
Monitoring, review and evaluation of courses, topics and components of courses are

assess

the

overall

quality

of

the

teaching

and

learning

environments, and judge whether educational aims and learning

outcomes have been achieved;

identify areas where performance needs to be improved, and

generate strategies for improving performance in these areas; and
monitor improvements over a given period of time.

consider the on-going value, viability and sustainability of the course

or topic, and its relevance and place within the HEPs academic
programmes.

assess the impact of Content Management System (CMS) and the

Learning Management System (LMS) of the HEPs

identify and assess the direction and trend of official knowledge

generated and the community generated and community driven
content.

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

intended to enable the HEPs to:

10. LEADERSHIP, GOVERNANCE AND ADMINSTRATION

Quality in a product or service is not what the supplier puts in. It is what the customer
gets out and is willing to pay for
~Peter F. Drucker
There are many ways of administering an educational institution and the methods of

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

management differ between HEPs. Nevertheless, governance that reflects the

68

leadership of an academic organization must emphasize excellence and scholarship.

At the department level, it is crucial that the leadership provides clear guidelines and
directions, builds relationships amongst the different constituents based on
collegiality and transparency, manages finances and other resources with
accountability, forges partnership with significant stakeholders in educational delivery,
research and consultancy and dedicates itself towards academic and scholarly
endeavours. Whilst formalized arrangements can protect these relationships, they are
best developed by a culture of reciprocity, mutuality and open communications
(COPPA, 2008. p28).

Leadership in HEPs does not only concern the leadership of the Head or Chief
Executive/Vice Chancellor or top management who ought to have leadership qualities
and specific skills, but leaders are also, each and every one of the teaching staff. In
academic organizations, the leadership norm is distributed and autonomous, with the
primacy of leadership acts placed on academic and thought leadership.

In the

philosophy of leadership for learning, all staff should be involved as leaders in the
programmes offered. Although there is a strong relationship between management
and leadership, exploring the management specific roles and responsibilities is
prerequisite to understand the nature of leadership. So, it is necessary to examine
the roles of the Head as the one appointed to the post, and the roles of the informal
leader and other non-positional leaders as well, who possess rare talents and unique
expertise. The first role is given, and, it includes legitimate authority and
encompasses a wide range of managerial and administrative sub roles which require
appropriate skills and capacities. The latter role implies the possession of a variety of
specific characteristics, behaviours, attitudes and skills which are exercised in
informal and non-formal domains. (Law and Glover, 2000).

Leadership Creates, Promotes and Develops Professional Communities of

Practice for the Programme

Academic leadership of any education programme should be based on the standards

consistent with responsibilities in the execution of the programme concerned.
Successful leadership influence teaching and learning through developing learning
communities, which, in this sense is an inclusive group of people, motivated by a
shared vision that will enhance and support scholar-teacher and -students learning
(Stoll & Seashore, 2007). It is very important that the selection processes, procedures
and criteria of individuals and job description of the academic leaders, are well
defined and in place, consistent with the leadership requirements of any particular
education programme. The list of names, qualifications and past experiences with
accrual resume to indicate the relationship between the academic leaders, courses
and responsibilities in the execution of education programme should be provided by
the HEP, Faculty or Department concerned for immediate reference as well as for
record purposes. The seminal works and contributions of academic staff should be
made accessible to peers and students and should be shared to promote
multidisciplinary understanding and develop frameworks of collective insights. There

indigenous literature, in autobiographical and biographical genres on educational

leadership. This genre can be used by curriculum developers as well as scholarteachers to foster deeper and personal understandings of educational leadership,
educational philanthropy, and edupreneurship. (Beeby, 1999; Skinner, 1976; 1979;
Omar Hashim, 2013; Rokiah Talib 2014). The spin-off on the focus on leadership
should inspire a culture of volunteerism and corporate, national, global social
responsibility among all, academicians, academic staff, and, particularly, the scholarteachers.

The evaluation process of the performance of Programme Leadership should be

done semesterly or annually, and must be transparent or be made known to those
who are involved in the evaluation process, whose responsibilities should be clearly
indicated. The department leadership should provide opportunities for different
academicians to be exposed to the routines as well as the non-routine challenges of
recruitment and training, student admission, allocation of resources, as well as other
strategic decision making processes. The opportunities for staff development should

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

is in existence a vast international literature and, an increasing body of works in

69

be created for new academic staff to generate innovations, and, further advance a
culture of creativity in the department, where the policies of job rotation, job
enlargement and job enrichment are implemented as appropriate.

The Role of Governance in Sustaining and Spreading Continuous Educational

Reform

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

Effective leadership aims to sustain any educational reform needed by the country or

70

profession and to develop multiple means to spread the substance and spirit of
reform, so that parents and educational agencies and the community at large are
engaged in ways that address their hopes and aspirations for the best of quality
education for their children.

There is evidence of effective leadership when the

policies, accreditation protocols, autonomy, teaching and administrative practices at

the faculty and department levels are established and clearly stipulated, are
accessible to all members of the academic staff and non-academic staff, and, are
congruent to, and, consistent with the mission, vision and goals of the faculty and
with the larger purposes of the HEP.

The governance structure and functions of each department and the main decision
making units, as well as other components of the department that provides the
programme and their operational and strategic relationships should be articulated and
coordinated. There should be evidence to support the coordination and articulation of
the programmes provided, such as, faculty and department meetings, admission and
examination policies, policy and guideline manuals, and the establishment of
administration committees and teams. It is the task of the HEP, the department or
the faculty to explain further the role of academic staff, non-academic staff and
students affairs in the governance structure. It is noted that in some cases, the
leadership responsibilities may extend to other campuses or other institutions with
actual, mutual partnership to provide joint education programmes. It is very important
that in cases of partnerships, leaders have to comprehend, develop consensual
understanding, and, utilize the extent of autonomy and responsibilities given to
campuses or institutions based on functional integration and educational quality.

Academic leadership must be dynamic and progressive in undertaking projects,

studies, or programmes which are relevant for the training and career advancement

of all staff. It is known, that the department which conducts regular performance
review of its programmes will be the department at the leading edge and capable of
fulfilling the specific and future needs of the education programmes. All policies
regarding the academic records of teaching personnel and administrators must be
congruent to and in alignment with Programme Standards set. Programme leaders at
the departmental level should master and comprehend fully all policies pertaining to
scholar-teachers/students academic records, and how the records are kept,
retained, used and disposed. Such records should contain data and profiles of
scholar-teachers/students for purposes of writing reference or recommendation
letters. The department must review and evaluate its policies periodically to ensure
the security of records. In so doing, leaders at the departmental level are expected to
emphasize the highest standards in confidentiality, quality control and monitoring of
students academic records (Data Privacy Act 2010). Only people of high integrity
and trust with some years of working experience in an examination syndicate or
examination unit or other security and confidential sections, should be selected for
the job of keeping student records with integrity.

Appointment of Efficient and Creative Academic Leaders

and distributed academic leadership qualities that bring impact to student learning
outcomes. Effective leadership demands the appropriate matching of expertise and
experience to a particular academic position. As noted earlier, specific to the level
offered at HEP, the programme leadership (e.g. Coordinator, Head of Program or
Dean) must fulfil the following qualifications and experiences:

CERTIFICATE & DIPLOMA LEVEL

A Bachelors Degree in Education or related areas with three years of related
working experiences, including teaching experience.

BACHELOR DEGREE LEVEL

A Masters Degree with at least one qualification in education or related areas with
three years of related working experiences, including teaching experience.

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

The model of academic leadership for Education Programme is based on supportive

71

MASTERS DEGREE AND POST GRADUATE DIPLOMA/CERTIFICATE LEVEL

A Doctoral Degree with at least one qualification in education or related area with
three years of related working experiences, including teaching experience; OR
A Masters Degree with at least one qualification in education or related area with
five years of related working experience including teaching experience.

DOCTORAL DEGREE

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

A Doctoral Degree with at least one qualification in education or related area with

72

three years of related working experiences, including teaching experience; OR

A Masters Degree with seven years of related working experiences, including
teaching experience and active research publications background.

11. CONTINUAL QUALITY IMPROVEMENT

Quality begins with the intent, which is fixed by management. Everybody doing his
best is not the answer. It is first necessary that people know what to do. Learning is
not necessaryneither is survival.
~Edwards Deming.

Continual Quality Improvement (CQI) is based on the philosophy of sustainable

quality culture, which requires an organization to systematically analyse its systems
for variance and make positive quality changes based on facts and other evidence.
These improvement changes are meant to increase the organizations effectiveness,
efficiency, quality

and impact. Positive feedback confirm and reaffirm the

organizations policies and objectives , and, initiatives taken to raise quality culture to
the next level of excellence in its resolve to provide better customer and employee
satisfaction.
Increasingly, society demands greater accountability from HEPs. Needs are
constantly changing because of the advancements in science and technology, and

In facing these challenges, HEPs have little choice but to become dynamic learning
organisations that need to continually and systematically review and monitor the
various issues so as to meet the demands of the constantly changing environment
(COPPA, 2008, pp.30-31).
Continuous Quality Improvements (CQI) in Academia
CQI is closely related to and encompass the Processes of Monitoring and Review.
CQI is especially important in institutions of higher education because in the
education sector, colleges and universities are held accountable for the products they
produce that is, their graduates. Stakeholders view scholar-teacher achievement
and demonstrated performance in the work place and leadership in the wider
community, as the key indicator of an institutions quality. Therefore, staff and
scholar-teacher become the focus and the means by which an institution gains
feedback about what works and what does not work. The challenge is to do what
institutions already do, but better. In this respect, CQI is a process - continual in

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

the explosive growth in global knowledge, which are rapidly and widely disseminated.

73

nature of bringing about incremental and developmental improvement for the

benefit of its students and staff, customers and stakeholders. It must, however, be
remembered that improvement is a result; so it can only be said to be so after there
has been a beneficial change in the organization's performance. Such evidence of
improvement is important because in this era which is constantly filled with
exponentially exploding knowledge bases, rising expectations and aspirations, there
will be greater public scrutiny on institutions of higher learning and they are expected

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

to provide proof of their ability to keep pace with rapid changes.

74

CQI Protocols

CQI is carried out by an institution to assure its stakeholders of an ever-improving

value of what it offers. CQI will help improve the institutions organisational efficiency,
effectiveness and capabilities. Evidence of sustained quality and excellence will in
turn contribute to its market success or its public accountability. At the same time, it
will help improve its organisational efficiency, effectiveness and capabilities and also
build its own organisational/institutional and personal learning, branding, positioning,
image and reputation.

Before embarking on a CQI endeavour, a Higher Education Provider might do the

following:

ask some questions why continual improvement is important and whether it

is understood and shared by all members in the organization.

determine what its continual improvement process is like and what type of
trend data it has gathered over the past 5 years or so and how the data was
used to bring about improvements to Education Programmes.

determine how such data was collected and how it will be used in relation to
the further enhancement of CQI activity.

Decide on what improvements to be made to existing instruments and what

new relevant data to collect for future use.

Having determined the above, HEPs are expected to provide evidence of ability to
keep pace with changes in the field to meet the Standards of the Profession and to
meet the requirements of stakeholders. Evidence that the Standards and

Requirements are met

should be based on

but not limited to the following

indicators:

1.

Programme curriculum review, and Module review and development, conducted

at least once every 2-3 years;

2.

Appointment of external reviewer/industrial adviser for quality assessment

processes;

3.

Linkages with educational institution, department and industry, such as, with
Content Providers, Research Centres and Centres of Excellence;

4.

Continuous review of professional policies and practices, attachment practices

and systematic records;

5.

Dialogue sessions with stakeholders , for example, parent-teacher association,

teacher trade unions, and, professional organisations (including,
Besar, Deans Council,Professorial Council, and

Majlis Guru

Master Teachers Council),

Ministry and Government agencies, communities, alumni, public opinion leaders

and student bodies in order to ensure relevance and effectiveness of educational
programmes;
6.

Organising symposium and fora as well as active participation of academic staff

short courses;
7.

Initiating the expansion of the body of up-to-date educational knowledge by

inviting a wide range of national and international speakers from education,
training and related fields to share their experiences and indicate trends of the
future;

8.

Demonstrating evidence of constructive engagement of educators in leadership

in teaching, in significant publications,

in high impact research, in relevant

consultancies and in meaningful community services;

9.

The HEP should be continuously reviewing all aspects of it strategic mission and
continue to monitor the implementation of strategic plans and make appropriate
changes as the national and international drivers and changes such as General
Agreement of Tariffs and Trade (GATT), and other international initiatives move
beyond the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) , Education for Alll (EFA),
the 11th Malaysian Plan, Vision 2020; and Education Development Blueprint
2013-2025; and

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

at relevant national and international conferences, seminars, workshops and

75

10. The HEP should be addressing

gender issues, the needs of minorities,

disadvantaged groups especially the handicapped, through infrastructure and

facility resources development, appropriate supportive and health services,
opportunities development and other practical initiatives,

upholding non

discriminatory principles.

The success of any CQI activity relies on clarity of philosophies and beliefs,

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

leadership and teamwork and shared commitment. Managers must support their unit

76

strategically and developmentally at the macro level. At the micro level, teamwork is
equally important as everyone must work to achieve the goal(s) of the institution.
Different departments in the HEP must support and complement the institutions
policies, procedures and mechanisms for the CQI agenda. The departments and the
HEPs must embrace the spirit of CQI through their involvement in research, revising
and reviewing current policies and practices and future possibilities of quality
excellence. To ensure strategic and operational goals are met and achieved, the
persons or unit responsible for internal quality audit should be given resources as
well as other useful kinds of support and recognition.

CONCLUSION
The empires of the future are the empires of the mind.
~Winston Churchill

Challenges of Global, National and Institutional Realities Ahead

In summary, it is reemphasized that Education is a critical sector and Teacher

Education and the Teaching profession is considered the Profession upon
which all other Professions rest. Education is a broad-based multidisciplinary
discipline which draws its corpus from a range of Foundation Disciplines which
include Psychology, Philosophy, Sociology, History, Anthropology, Curriculum
Studies, Linguistics, Social and Policy Studies, Management and Leadership Studies
and other Knowledge disciplines. In Teacher Education, various School Subjects are
selected for mastery by Scholar-Teachers /pre service and in service teachers.
Typically, the Education Sciences and Teacher Education Programmes encompass
Teaching Methodologies and the Contents of Academic subjects such as
Language[s], Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography,

Subjects. Education Sciences and Teacher Education may be connected with many
other degree programmes. Most competences (generic and specific) are common to
both Teacher Education and Education Sciences. Beginning and advanced
competencies are to be developed across the first, second and third cycles of studies
across the continuum of the personal and professional life of an educator. It is noted
that while Faculties of Education of Universities and the Education University (UPSI)
focus on the academic aspects of Educational Programmes, Teacher Education
Institutes allocated substantial time for practical and co-curricular activities in the
education and training of teacher-scholar learners. Many of the expanded
competencies for the profession may be acquired and developed during periods of in
service education and training, and not necessarily acquired and developed in the
contexts of formally accredited programmes leading to the granting of degrees. Policy
decisions and professional decisions need to be made to create, develop and
establish pathways where all professional learnings are appropriately recognized and
duly accredited. (See Appendix 8)

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

Religious Studies, and Moral Education, as well as Vocational and Technical

77

In Malaysia, as in most developed countries, all secondary school teachers and

increasingly, all primary school teachers are educated at least to first degree level or
the equivalent of the level. There is a long history of curricular components and
standards of achievements set, based on guidelines by the Ministry of Education,
Universities and other authoritative professional bodies. These institutions ensure a
commonality of Shared Root Knowledge and Standards of Programmes, although
there may be a diverse range of Programmes. While the providers of education for

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

teachers [universities and teacher institutes] have their own autonomy, there is
academic and professional consensus that future teachers are to acquire relevant,

78

contexts. Besides degree programmes, most institutions provide education

robust and useable competencies, including knowledge, skills and attitudes,

particular to their socio-cultural-economic and technological contexts. The knowledge
corpus to be mastered include school subject specializations [including vocational
and technical subjects], theory and practice of education relevant to a particular age
group, as well as across the life span, educational issues and other matters of
national priorities in education, and, regional and global trends and agenda in
education. Teachers are, of course, expected to be engaged in defining and deeply
understanding their roles as professionals in the fast changing global and national

professionals with training programmes, which do not always lead to higher

qualifications. In Malaysia, Education is a Federal Government responsibility and
there is a centralized system of administration, and, therefore, there is considerable
uniformity in Education Sciences offered by Higher Educational Providers. Also,
because teaching is a profession, there is similarity in common core content and
focus of core components of Education Sciences. World-wide there are intellectually
rigorous studies of educational approaches, processes and systems in Teacher
Education institutions. Collectively these studies contribute to the cumulatively
evolving body of knowledge of the Education Disciplines.

As a multidisciplinary discipline, the Educational Sciences and Teacher Education

must keep pace with, and, respond to the Knowledge Revolution in the Digital Era,
with Scientific, Technological, Economic and Cultural changes which continue to
impact on life styles and world views in subtle, and, sometimes in turbulent ways. The
design and delivery of the curriculum of Educational Sciences and Teacher Education
have to always take cognizance of, be up to date with the enhanced professional
demands of the times and, even be ahead in ensuring that Educational Professionals

are in all ways possible, masterful in proactively defining and contributing to solve
global and national educational issues of the era.

Scholars have noted that Education confronts new Challenges some of which bring
about Turning Points and Paradigm Changes in the ways we understand the world.
As Educators contribute to assist in constructing and reconstructing learners
understanding of realities and capture the corpus of knowledge to be transmitted as
Wisdom for the next generation, they have to take cognizance of recurring and
emerging challenges at the local, national, regional and global levels.

As leaders design the best programmes and courses for those who would be scholarteachers or those who would acquire qualifications related to the education field, they
should take stock of the existing mature knowledge as yet not effectively utilized, as
well as, the evolving knowledge yet unknown regarding the future of society, schools
and sciences and technologies. In knowledge management in the education sciences
in the digital era, special attention should be given to the issue of knowledge
obsolescence, brain-sciences, massive open online courses (MOOCs), creativity and
innovation, indigenous knowledge, habits of mind and high order cognitive

multidisciplinarity, and multiculturalism and community-driven knowledge generation

[as differentiated from crowd sourcing]. The nurturing of global citizenry,
volunteerism, reflective thinking and focus on the genre of autobiographies and
biographies in education in the quest for role models should be addressed. It is
hoped that immersion by HEPs in this EPS will nurture tough and dynamic leadership
in education, promote lifelong learning and encourage scholar teachers to develop
lifetime reading and education plans and educational connoisseurship.

HEPs are encouraged to address the important aspects of cross-cultural existence.

This matter demands urgency because of globalisation, internationalisation, and
liberalisation in a context of greater mobility and interactions of peoples, HEPS and
educators are also invited to be mindfully, creatively and contributively engaged in the
exciting journey of nation building and civilization building through the Education
Sector, and specifically, through dynamic and effective Knowledge Generation,
Knowledge Management and Knowledge Dissemination of Education Programmes.

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

competencies, clarification of values, and stages of moral and ethical growth,

79

Note:
The Panel records its indebtedness to scholars in the field and those who have made
significant earlier contributions pertaining to Standards and Quality in the field of

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

Education.

80

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American Educational Research Association, American Psychological Association
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Frase, L; English, F. W; And Poston, K. W. (2000). The Curriculum Management

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Fullan M. G. (1993). The New Meaning of Educational Change. London: Cassell
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Furlong, J and Lawn, M. (2010). Disciplines of Education: Their Role in the Future of
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Bloom, B. (1984). Taxonomy of Educational Objectives. 2nd Ed. New York: Addison
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Law, S. and Glover, D. 2000. Educational leadership and Learning. Practice, Policy
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Malakolunthu, S. (2007) Teacher Learning in Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur: University of
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Marzano, R. and Kendall, J. S. (2006). The New Taxonomy of Educational
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Marzano, R. J. and Kendall, J. S. (2008). Designing and Assessing Educational
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Omar Mohd. Hashim (2013) Menongkah Gelombang Pendidikan. Kuala Lumpur.
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PANEL OF EXPERTS
EDUCATION PROGRAMME STANDARDS
The panel responsible for producing this document consist of the

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

following:

84

No

Panel Members

Organisation

1.

Professor Dato Dr. Ibrahim Ahmad Bajunid

INTI Laureate International

University

- Chairman 2.

Professor Dr. Abd. Rashid Mohamed

---------------------------------------------------Prof. Madya Dr. Shuki Osman (alternate
member)

3.

Professor Dr. Ab Rahim Bakar

4.

Professor Dr. Abd. Rashid Johar

5.

Profesor Dr. Saedah Siraj

Universiti Sains Malaysia

(USM)
Chairman of Education Dean
Council for the Public Higher
Learning Institution
------------------------------------------Universiti Putra Malaysia
(UPM)
Universiti Industri Selangor
(UNISEL)
Universiti Malaya
(UM)

----------------------------------------------------------Profesor Dr. Moses Samuel (alternate

member)
6.

Professor Dr. Widad Othman

7.

Professor Madya Dr. Sali Zaliha Mustapha

8.

Dr. Yee Sye Foong

Institut Pendidikan Guru,

Kampus Teknik

9.

Dr. Zuraida Razali

Institut Pendidikan Guru Induk

10.

Dr. Kartini Bahrom

Bahagian Pendidikan Guru

(BPG), KPM

Universiti Terbuka Malaysia

(OUM)
Universiti Perguruan Sultan Idris
(UPSI)

Appendix 1

SAMPLE OF EXISTING NOMENCLATURES

Broad Field
Narrow Field
Detailed Field

Education
14
Teacher Training and Education Science
141
Teaching and Training

Certificate
Certificate in Teaching
Professional Certificate in Teaching Methodology
Diploma in Montessori Method of Education in collaboration with Modern Montessori
International, London
Diploma
Diploma Pendidikan
Diploma Perguruan Asas
Diploma Pengurusan Teknik & Pendidikan
Graduate Certificate/Diploma
Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Teaching and Learning

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

Degree
Sarjana Muda Pendidikan (Pentadbiran Pendidikan)
Sarjana Muda Keguruan (Kajian Sosial)
Sarjana Muda Keguruan (Pendidikan Seni Visual)
Sarjana Muda Pentadbiran Pendidikan
Sarjana Muda Keguruan (Pendidikan Muzik)
Sarjana Muda Keguruan (Pendidikan Jasmani)
Sarjana Muda Keguruan (Pendidikan Khas)
Bachelor of Education(Hons) in Primary Education
Bachelor of Education (Hons)
Ijazah Sarjana Muda Perguruan Dengan Kepujian (Bahasa Melayu Pendidikan Rendah)
Ijazah Sarjana Muda Perguruan Dengan Kepujian (Pendidikan Jasmani Pendidikan
Rendah)
Ijazah Sarjana Muda Perguruan Dengan Kepujian (Matematik Pendidikan Rendah)
Ijazah Sarjana Muda Perguruan Dengan Kepujian (Sains Pendidikan Rendah)
Ijazah Sarjana Muda Perguruan Dengan Kepujian (Pendidikan Khas - Masalah
Pendengaran Pendidikan Rendah)
Ijazah Sarjana Muda Perguruan Dengan Kepujian (Pendidikan Seni Visual Pendidikan
Rendah)
Ijazah Sarjana Muda Perguruan Dengan Kepujian (Pendidikan Khas - Masalah
Pembelajaran Pendidikan Rendah)
Ijazah Sarjana Muda Perguruan Dengan Kepujian (Pendidikan Muzik Pendidikan
Rendah)

85

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

86

Ijazah Sarjana Muda Perguruan Dengan Kepujian (Pengajian Sosial Pendidikan Rendah)
Ijazah Sarjana Muda Perguruan Dengan Kepujian (Sains Pendidikan Rendah) Ijazah
Sarjana Muda Perguruan Dengan Kepujian (Rekabentuk Dan Teknologi-Pendidikan
Rendah)
Ijazah Sarjana Muda Perguruan Dengan Kepujian (Bahasa Cina Pendidikan Rendah)
Ijazah Sarjana Muda Perguruan Dengan Kepujian (Bahasa Arab Pendidikan Rendah))
Ijazah Sarjana Muda Pengajaran Bahasa Inggeris Sebagai Bahasa Kedua
Ijazah Sarjana Muda Pendidikan (PBISBK) Pendidikan Rendah
Ijazah Sarjana Muda Pengurusan Pendidikan Sekolah Rendah
Ijazah Sarjana Muda Kaunseling
Ijazah Sarjana Muda Pendidikan Awal Kanak-Kanak

Post Graduate Certificate/Diploma

Postgraduate Diploma in Education
Post- Graduate Diploma in Higher Education Teaching
Post Graduate Diploma in Teaching
Master Degree
Sarjana Pendidikan
Sarjana Pengurusan Pendidikan
Sarjana Teknologi Pengajaran
Sarjana Pendidikan Matematik Dengan Teknologi Komunikasi dan Maklumat
Sarjana Pendidikan Sains Dengan Teknologi Komunikasi dan Maklumat
Sarjana Pendidikan Awal Kanak-Kanak
Sarjana Pengurusan Pendidikan (Disiplin Sekolah)
Sarjana Pendidikan (Pengurusan Kokurikulum & Sukan)
Ijazah Sarjana Pendidikan (Pengurusan Disiplin)
Sarjana Pendidikan (Pengurusan Pendidikan)
Ijazah Sarjana Pendidikan (Kepengetuaan)
Ijazah Sarjana Pendidikan (Pengurusan Latihan)
Ijazah Sarjana Pendidikan (Pengurusan Kurikulum)
Ijazah Sarjana Pendidikan (Pengurusan Perpustakaan dan Pusat Sumber Pendidikan )
Ijazah Sarjana Pendidikan (Pengukuran & Penilaian)
Master of Education (Educational Leadership and Management)
Master of Education (Curriculum and Instruction)
Master of Education (Counselling)
MA in Educational Leadership and Management
MA in Professional Studies in Education
Doctoral Degree
Doktor Falsafah (Pendidikan)
PhD (with Study in School of Education)

Broad Field
Narrow Field
Detailed Field

Education
14
Teacher Training and Education Science
142
Education Science

Degree
Sarjana Muda Pendidikan Kejuruteraan Mekanik
Sarjana Muda Pendidikan (Kejuruteraan Elektrik)
Sarjana Muda Pendidikan (Kejuruteraan Awam)
Sarjana Muda Pendidikan (Sains)
Sarjana Muda Pendidikan (Matematik)
Master Degree
Sarjana Rekabentuk Pengajaran dan Teknologi
MA in ICT in Education
Broad Field
Narrow Field
Detailed Field

Education
14
Teacher Training and Education Science
143
Training for Preschool Teachers

Diploma
Diploma in Early Childhood Education
Diploma in Islamic Early Childhood Education
Diploma in Early Childhood Development
Diploma Pendidikan Pra Sekolah

Degree
Bachelor of Early Childhood 3+0 in collaboration with University of Southern
Queensland, Australia
B.A (Hons) in Education Studies (Early Years)3+0 in collaboration with University of
Hertfordshire
Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Honours)
Sarjana Muda Pendidikan Awal Kanak-Kanak
Sarjana Muda Pengajaran (Pendidikan Prasekolah)
Sarjana Muda Pengajaran (Pendidikan Rendah)
Ijazah Sarjana Muda Pendidikan (Pendidikan Awal Kanak-Kanak)
Ijazah Sarjana Muda Perguruan Dengan Kepujian (Pendidikan Pra Sekolah)

87
PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

Certificate
Certificate in Pre-School Education
Sijil Pengurusan Prasekolah
Certificate in Early Childhood Education
Sijil Pendidikan Awal Kanak-Kanak
Certificate in Early Childhood Care and Education
Montessori Early Childhood Diploma
International Diploma in Montessori Pedagogy Early Childhood Course

Master Degree
Master of Education (Early Childhood Education)

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

Broad Field
Narrow Field
Detailed Field

88

Education
14
Teacher Training and Education Science
144
Training for Teachers at Basic Levels

Diploma
Diploma Perguruan Teaching of English a Second Language
Diploma in Education
Degree
Bachelor of Education (Teaching of English as Second Language -TESL)
Ijazah Sarjana Muda Industri Pendidikan (TESL)
Bachelor of Arts(Hons)English Education
Bachelor of Arts(Hons) in Education and English
Ijazah Sarjana Muda Perguruan Dengan Kepujian (Bahasa Melayu Pendidikan Rendah)
Master Degree
Master of Education (TESL)

Appendix 2

COMPARISON OF QUALITY CONTROL AND QUALITY

ENHANCEMENT
Dimension

Quality Control

Paradigm

Instrumental

Intent

Accountability

Quality Enhancement
Transformative (Driven by all
staff & student)
Improvement
Transformative(Driven by

Philosophy

Instrumental

enhanced student learning

experiences)

Locus of Control

Motive

Social Relations

External
Management/Government
Driven

Internal Driven By
Employees/Professionals

Government

Desire for Organizations

Directives/Policies

improvement

Competitive, directive

Collegial, negotiated (Collegial

and managerial)

Top down / bureaucratic

Management Style

Authoritarian

Consensual and (Focused)

Centralised

Devolved/Decentralized

Outcomes

Evidence of Past Practice

Pathways for improvement

Time

Short Term

Longer Term

Audience

External Stakeholder

Orientation

Past practice

Structures

Indicators of
Success

Quantitative

directional)

Internal Stakeholders (All

Stakeholders)
Future /Possibility
Qualitative (Quantitative &
Qualitative)

Source: Sachs, J., Dempster, N. & Gapp, R, A case of Competing Interests: Quality
in Higher Education, Griffith University, Queensland,
http://www.aare.edu.au/93pap/sachj93188.txtAccessed 17th October 2007.
Note: Statements indicated in brackets in the Quality Enhancement Column is
reflective of the practice adopted by MQA

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

Process

Administrative

89

Bottom up/ facilitative (Multi-

90

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

Appendix 3

FLOW CHART of DIMENSIONS OF PROGRAMME

Input

Programme aims and

objectives

Learning outcomes

Program design and

delivery

Student assessment

Student selection

Academic staff

Educational resources

Program monitoring and

review

Leadership, governance
and administration
(With reference to MQF,
COPPA, COPIA, GGP,
Malaysian teacher standards,
standard kualiti pendidikan
Malaysia, national educational
policies)

Basic Standards,
Enhanced Standards,
Good Practices

Process

Enhancing quality focus on

processes of educational
programmes
Balancing and aligning areas
of quality focus and
educational components
Meeting current and future
national and international
expectations of best
practices
Fostering professional
decision-making and
leadership
Exploring new dimensions of
quality
Anticipating future needs for
quality
Re-visiting and revamping
areas of quality focus

Product Standards,
Process Standards,
Management System
Standards

Indicators

Indicators

Outcome

Product

Qualified
teachers/educators/educational
specialists
Generation and advancement of
educational knowledge
Capacity building of educational
institutions
Quality, professional and global mindset
with a Malaysian identify
New benchmarks/milestones in the
educational landscape
National quality labels for education
World quality labels for education

Professional Teaching
Standards, Teacher
Performance Standards
Malaysian National
Education Standards,

Indicators

Malaysia as a centre of
excellence for educational
programmes
Public confidence in the
Malaysian Education
System
World class educational
institutions

World Education
Standards

Indicators

25 FEBRUARY
2014

EDUCATION PROGRAMME STANDARDS FINAL DRAFT

Appendix 4

91
PROGRAMME STANDARD: EDUCATION

91

92

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

Appendix 5

SCHOOL SUBJECTS IN MALAYSIA BY LEVELS

UJIAN PENILAIAN
SEKOLAH
RENDAH (UPSR)
Bahasa Malaysia
Pemahaman
(Comprehension),
Bahasa Malaysia
Penulisan(Writing),
Bahasa Inggeris
(Comprehension &
Writing)
Bahasa Cina
Pemahaman
(Comprehension),
Bahasa Cina
Penulisan (Writing),
Bahasa Tamil
Pemahaman
(Comprehension),
Bahasa Tamil
Penulisan (Writing),
Mathematics,
Science and
Aptitude Test

PENILAIAN
MENENGAH
RENDAH (PMR)
Bahasa Malaysia,
Bahasa Inggeris,
Mathematics,
Science,
Geography,History,
Kemahiran Hidup,
Islamic Studies,
Moral Education,
Physical Education,
Art Education,
Tamil Language,
Chinese Language,
Optional Subjects:
Basic Arabic
Communication,
Higher Arabic
Communication,
Tamil
Language,Punjabi
Language, Iban
Language, and

SIJIL PELAJARAN MALAYSIA (SPM)

Bahasa Malaysia, Bahasa Inggeris, Pendidikan Islam, Pendidikan

Moral, Modern Mathematics, Additional Mathematics, Chemistry,
Prinsip Perakaunan, Physics, Sejarah,
Elective Subjects
Science and Mathematics - Additional Mathematics, Physics,
Chemistry, Biology, Additional Science, Applied Science.
Invention and Design, Art Education
Social Sciences and Religion - Geografi, Pengajian
Keusahawanan, Perdagangan, Prinsip Perakaunan, Ekonomi
Asas, Tasawwur Islam, Pendidikan Al Quran dan As-Sunnah,
Pendidikan Syariah Islamiah, Perakaunan Perniagaan and Bible
Knowledge
Arts and Health Science - Pendidikan Seni Visual, Pendidikan
Muzik, Pengetahuan Sains Sukan
Information Technology - Information Communications

SIJIL TINGGI
PELAJARAN
MALAYSIA (STPM)
General Studies,
Malay Language,
Chinese Language
Arabic Language,
Tamil Language,
Literature in English,
Malay Literature,
Islamic Law,
Usulluddin, History ,
Geography,
Economics, Business
Studies, Accounting,
Mathematics S,
Mathematics T,
Further Mathematics
T, Computing,
Physics, Chemistry,
Biology, Sports
Science, and Visual
Arts

UJIAN PENILAIAN
SEKOLAH
RENDAH (UPSR)

The UPSR is
planned to be
replaced by School
Based Assessment
in 2014

The subjects
offered in the
education system
are to remain.

PENILAIAN
MENENGAH
RENDAH (PMR)
Kadazandusun
Language,

SIJIL PELAJARAN MALAYSIA (SPM)

Technology, Fundamentals of Programming, Programming and

Development Tools, Aplikasi Komputer dalam Perniagaan and
Teknologi Pejabat Perniagaan

PMR was officially

ended in 2013 and
is to be replaced by
School-Based
Assessment.

Language and Literature - Literature in English, Kesusasteraan

Melayu, Bahasa Arab Tinggi, Bahasa Cina, Bahasa Tamil,
English for Science and Technology, Bahasa Iban, Bahasa Arab
Komunikasi, Kesusasteraan Cina, Kesusasteraan Tamil, Bahasa
Perancis, and Bahasa Punjabi

The subjects
offered in the
education system
are to remain

Technical and Vocational - Sains Pertanian, Pengajian

Agroteknologi, Ekonomi Rumahtangga, Engineering Drawing,
Pengajian Kejuruteraan Mekanikal, Pengajian Kejuruteraan
Awam, Pengajian Kejuruteraan Elektrik dan Elektronik,
Rekacipta, Engineering Technology, Pengurusan Makanan, Pola
Pakaian [Fashion Design], Pembinaan Domestik, Membuat
Perabot, Kerja Paip Domestik, Pendawaian Domestik, Kimpalan
Arka dan Gas, Menservis Automobil,Menservis Motosikal,
Menservis Peralatan Penyejukan dan Penyaman Udara,
Menservis Peralatan Elektrik Domestik, Rekaan dan Jahitan
Pakaian, Katering dan Penyajian, Pemprosesan Makanan,
Penjagaan Muka dan Dandanan Rambut, Asuhan dan
Pendidikan Awal Kanak-Kanak, Gerontologi Asas dan
Perkhidmatan Geriatrik, Lanskap dan Nurseri, Akuakultur dan
Haiwan Rekreasi, Tanaman Makanan, Seni Reka Tanda, Hiasan
Dalaman Asas, Produksi Multimedia Grafik Berkomputer,
Membuat Pakaian, Menservis TV, Roti dan Masakan Yis,
Patisserie,
Persolekan,
Dandanan
Rambut,
Pengajian

SIJIL TINGGI
PELAJARAN
MALAYSIA (STPM)

93

94

UJIAN PENILAIAN
SEKOLAH
RENDAH (UPSR)

PENILAIAN
MENENGAH
RENDAH (PMR)

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

SIJIL PELAJARAN MALAYSIA (SPM)

Perkembangan Kanak-Kanak, Perkhidmatan Awal Kanak-Kanak,

Penyediaan Masakan Barat dan Timur, Penyajian Makanan dan
Minuman, Teknologi Bengkel Mesin, Kerja Menggegas
[Maintenance Work], Kerja Melarik [Lathe Working], Lukisan
Geometrik dan Mesin, Teknologi Binaan Bangunan, Kerja Kayu,
Kerja Bata, Lukisan Geometri dan Pembinaan Bangunan,
Teknologi Elektrik, Pemasangan Elektrik, Kawalan Elektrik,
Lukisan Geometri dan Elektrik, Teknologi Elektrik, Menservis
Radio, Teknologi Kimpalan dan Fabrikasi Logam, Kerja Kimpalan
Arka, Kerja Kimpalan, Lukisan Geometri dan Fabrikasi Logam,
Teknologi Automotif, Auto Asas, Kerja Elektrik dan Diesel,
Lukisan Geometri dan Automotif, Teknologi Penyejukan dan
Penyamanan Udara, Memasang dan Menservis Penyejuk dan
Penyaman Udara, Lukisan Geometri dan Penyaman Udara,
Pengeluaran Tanaman, Pengeluaran Ternakan, Hortikultur
Hiasan dan Lanskap, Kejenteraan Ladang dan Pengurusan
Ladang

SIJIL TINGGI
PELAJARAN
MALAYSIA (STPM)

Appendix 6

AREAS OF STUDY IN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES

Recognizing that education involves a wide range of fields and teacher education
covers an entire span of a teachers career, the programmes in education should
focus on both the education of teachers and education discipline sciences.First,
teacher education provides scholar-teachers, with essential core educational
knowledge and professional teaching knowledge and skills in specific school subject
knowledge disciplines. Second, in addition to teaching skills for specific school
subjects, education science aims to prepare scholar teachers with a high level of
teacher professionalism, knowledge, and understanding to enable them to function as
effective professional teachers.

Teacher training and education science in Malaysia can be categorized into several
levels, namely, certificate, diploma, bachelor, masters, and doctoral degrees. At each
level, educational programmes are divided into core and elective modules and

95

compulsory subjects. This programme standards provides minimum requirements of

programme content can be seen in programme design and delivery on page). HEPs,
however, are expected to go beyond Benchmarked Standards to Enhanced
Standards.

This document covers a wide range of subjects within the fields of teacher education
and education sciences. Notwithstanding the five Components of the Education
Disciplines, an alternative way of looking at programmes in teacher education and
education science is, for instance, by categorising into 5 structures, namely, teaching
and training, education science, training for pre-school teachers, training for teachers
with subject specialization, and training for teachers of vocational subject.
Recognizing the importance of the multi disciplinarity of the knowledge corpus,
various kinds of the joint corpus or a body of knowledge, such as science with
education, religion with education, business with education, et cet tera are
emphasized. The following are brief decriptions of sub fields in each domain;

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

Benchmark Standards which need to be met by HEPs at each level. (the details of

1.

Teaching and training for Mathematics Education

The subjects provided in teaching and training aim to provide student
teachers systematic knowledge of teaching and learning. It encompasses six
specialized disciplinary knowledge, mathematics and science education,
educational psychology, educational foundation, educational management,
planning and policies, educational technology, guidance and counselling.

2.

Concentrates on both disciplinary knowledge and pedagogical knowledge

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

96

Mathematics and science education

and skills in teaching mathematics and science. Student teachers should be

trained in both mathematical education background knowledge, and
mathematics teacher education, science education and science teacher
education; moreover, the interrelation between science, technology and
society are emphasized. The subjects generally involved are mathematics
education, mathematics teacher education, science education, science
teacher education, science technology and society, and environmental
education. .

3.

Educational psychology
Aims to provide student teachers general knowledge and theories regarding
how children and adults learn, and to expand students knowledge in terms
of individual differences, classroom dynamics, and learning variables and to
develop learners knowledge and skills on issues and theories applied in
school counselling, special education, and gifted education. Courses within
educational psychology generally involve educational psychology, special
education, counselling education and gifted education.

4.

Educational foundation
Aims to provide essential knowledge and skills which are required to be
professional teachers. The courses generally consist of sociology of
education, social science education, philosophy of education, and values
education.

5.

Educational management, planning and policies

Focuses

on general issues on educational management, planning and

administration with emphasis in K-12 administration, gifted administration,

and higher education administration. Besides, educational policies and
planning across disciplines and leadership in education are provided to
enhance scholar- teachers knowledge and understanding about concepts of
educational management and effective educational leadership, and to
develop knowledge and skills to make effective decision and organization
management.

6.

Educational technology
Aims to prepare students with knowledge and skills to be able to design,
implement and evaluate media and technology initiatives in education. The
courses generally cover instructional technology, web-based learning,
project based learning, design instructional module, mobile learning, elearning and multimedia education.

7.

97

Guidance and counselling

issue in counselling to counselling programmes in specific fields. It aims to

support and facilitate students personal, social, educational and career
development. The courses generally encompass school counselling,
counselling, vocational counselling, and career counselling.

8.

Education science
Education science provides substantial professional knowledge and skills in
education. It is divided into 3 sub-fields of study, educational assessment,
testing and measurement, curriculum and instruction, comparative and
international education.

9.

Educational assessment, testing and measurement

Focuses on general issues on assessment and evaluation in education, and
specific techniques in testing

and measurement, and specific issues on

language assessment and the integration of technology in assessment, and

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

Provides comprehensive programmes ranging from general knowledge and

also provides alternative strategies of measurements of students learning

performance.
10.

Curriculum and instruction

Provides fundamental knowledge and ideas in curriculum planning,
development, implementation and evaluation. Essential knowledge and skills
in pedagogy and andragogy, issues of curriculum in multidisciplinary
knowledge, comparative and international education, and future curriculum

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

studies are provided to offer comprehensive concepts and understanding of

curriculum. Furthermore, curriculum issues in extension and co-curricular
education, and distance education are also emphasized.

11.

Training for pre-school teachers

Training for pre-school teachers focuses on general knowledge and issues in
early childhood education, which is divided into 3 areas of study, that is,
early childhood education, numeracy, and literacy.

12.

Early childhood education

Aims to prepare student teachers with deep understanding and knowledge

98

on how children grow and develop so as to guide young children with

different social and cultural backgrounds to have appropriate development in
language, literacy and skills.

The subjects in this area include early

childhood education, numeracy, and literacy.

13.

Training for teachers with subject specialization

Teacher training in specialized subject concentrates on preparing scholar t
teachers with knowledge and skills in teaching specific disciplines. It covers
5 sub-fields of study, namely, arts and humanities education, language and
literacy education, health education, business education, and special
education.

14.

Arts and humanities education

Addresses issues in terms of educational practice and theory in art and
moral education. It includes art education, Islamic education, moral
education, civic education, citizenship education, geography education, AlQuran education, history education, and special education.

15.

Language and literacy education

Focuses

on general theories and issues in language education, such as,

language, reading education, bilingual/trilingual education, to produce

graduates who are proficient and knowledgeable about issues in language
teaching and learning in the evolving environment.

In particular, the

programme should offer concentrations in English, Arabic and Malay

language education. , Specific programme on teaching of Arabic as a second
language, teaching of English as a second language are also provided.

16.

Health education
Aims to prepare students with general knowledge of health issues of
individuals and communities, and to apply the principles of behavioural and
social sciences to promote health-related behavioural and social change.

17.

Business education
Aims to prepare students to be knowledgeable entrepreneurs and skilful

skills of reading, writing and computation which are an integral part of the
business, and general knowledge of business practices. It covers courses,
such as, accounting and economics.

18.

Special education
Addresses general issues on theories and practices, cognitive structure and
process, behavioural selectionism, disability construct, and family studies
and child development etc. Specific areas in special education focus on
behavioural disorders (e.g., autism, emotional disturbance), blindness, visual
impairment, deafness and hearing,

19.

Training for teachers of vocational subjects

Training for teachers of vocational subjects provides comprehensive
pedagogical knowledge and skills in preparing teachers in co-curriculum and
vocational training.

It includes sports science, vocational and technical

education, and engineering education.

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

competitors in the business world. The programme focuses on the basic

99

20.

Sports science
Focuses on preparing student teachers with knowledge and understanding
of sports science and developing knowledge and skills in teaching physical
education.

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

21.

100

Vocational and technical education

Aims to prepare student teachers with professional knowledge and skills in
teaching specific disciplines, including life skills education, entrepreneurship
education, agricultural education, and home economics-study and teaching.

22.

Engineering and education

Aim to develop and deliver effective and meaningful learning experience
which incorporates theory with real life application for future engineers and
educators, to promote the role of education in developing engineering
professionals. The courses in this area generally include civil, mechanical
and electrical engineering.

Note:
The above are examples of education subject offerings by an Education
Faculty in a Public University in Malaysia. An array of other Knowledge
Content, Pedagogical Content, Professional

Knowledge content can be

offered by the HEPS as deemed appropriate to scholar-teachers' interests,

needs, capacities and the changing and advancing requirements of the
education enterprise..

Appendix 7

A NOTE ON CREDIT HOURS

The credit-hour system used in Malaysian Universities reflects the students contact
hours during a particular semester. The number of credit hours allocated for a course
is based on the delivery mode used to engage students in the processes of mastery
of the contents of a course/module. For example, one hour of lecture per week over a
fifteen-week semester constitutes one credit hour, while 3 hours of laboratory session
or studio work per week also constitutes one credit hour. For every one hour of
lecture, students are expected to spend 2 to 3 hours on their own to prepare and to
revise the lessons associated with the lecture. Longer hours are allotted for
laboratory sessions even though a lower credit hour is given, as relatively less time is
needed to prepare for a laboratory session compared to lectures. While credit hours
calculated based on contact time have been accepted in Malaysia, concerns have
been raised on the actual amount of time that is spent by students outside the
classroom. There have been instances where students spend too little time on any
particular course outside the classroom. There are also instances where too much

101

work is assigned. In addition, no form of monitoring or enforcement exists to ensure

There are, however, audit visits which provide feedback regarding Quality Benchmark
Standards and Enhanced standards as practised by institutions. Institutions which
seriously and systematically address Student Learning Time to promote Mastery
Learning are on track to show evidence of Enhanced Standards.
Many studies have been conducted to ascertain the ideal or appropriate amount of
time that students should spend on a course for a given credit hour. A study in 2005
concluded that for every one credit hour specified, students need to spend 40 hours
of learning. This was determined by considering the total amount of time available in
a week, the time needed for personal matters, the time for rest and recreational
activities, and the time for studying. For a course of 3 credit hours, students will have
to spend 120 hours, which involves both face-to-face meetings (lectures/laboratory
work/tutorials, etc.) and non-face-to-face activities (Zainal Mohamed, 2005). The
credit hour is no longer based on the number of formal contact hours students have
to fulfil in a course; instead, it is based on all types of learning activities, be it face-toface or otherwise.

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

that students are engaged in learning activities related to the formal contact time.

The concept of Student Learning Time (SLT) is believed to be more effective in

ensuring that the learning process is not under-or-over-loading students. It requires
instructors to plan their lessons even well beyond the content. Instructors also need
to consider their delivery methods and the learning activities that students need to
conduct on their own in the non-face-to-face mode. For a given course with the same
content, different credit hours may be assigned to the course depending on the
delivery mode and learning activities designed by the instructors for the students.

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

HEPs are expected to address SLT in the Design, Delivery, and Evaluation of any
particular Course and in the collectively of Courses for any particular Education
Programme.
There is a large number of studies worldwide on class time and student learning and
related phenomena which would be useful reference for HEPs to ensure
insightfulness and thoughtfulness in the design of educational programmes.. (See, for
instance, Kenneth Leithwood, Karen Seashore Louis, Stephen Anderson and Kyla
Wahlstrom (2004) Review of Research-How Leadership Influences Student Learning.
New York, The Wallace Foundation. and, Kolbe, T., Partridge, M, & OReilly, F.
(2011). Time and learning in schools: A national profile. Boston, MA: National Center

102

on Time & Learning.

Appendix 8

FOUR STAGES FOR EFFECTIVE CURRICULUM DELIVERY

Plan

Deliver

Evaluate
Assess

Mapping of learning outcomes and delivery methods

MQF learning outcome domains

Examples of delivery methods

Knowledge

Lectures, tutorial, discussions,

debates, forums, presentations, field

social skills and responsibilities

trips, industrial attachment,

community projects

Factors of effective delivery strategies at micro level

Process
Stude
nt

Delivery strategies
Medium selection

Deliv

Program purpose

Learning
outcomes

Grouping

Tas
k

Contex
t

PROGRAMME STANDARDS: EDUCATION

Group work, industrial attachment,

103