Centre for Quality and Risk Management UTM (UTM QRiM) had successfully hosted the ‘Seminar on Internal-External Quality Assurance (SieQA 2019)’ themed ‘Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Challenges to Higher Education Quality Assurance’ on 21st – 22nd October 2019. SieQA is an annual event organized by the Malaysian Higher Education Institutions Quality Assurance Network (MyQAN) in partnership with the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) to promote excellence in quality assurance (QA) particularly in higher education. The conduct of SieQA 2019 was also in collaboration with UTMSPACE and Finance Accreditation Association (FAA) which aims to provide opportunity for higher education providers (HEPs) to formulate strategies in addressing the SDGs in QA matters as well as providing exposure for HEPs on requirements of the current QA framework and standards.
Renowned speakers in QA and higher education had shared their knowledge and experiences during the two-day workshops and seminar. A total of 200 participants consisting of QA unit representatives from Malaysian public and private HEPs actively participated in six workshops which covered topics and issues on Flexible Education, Programme Accreditation, COPPA 2.0 and MQF 2.0 for Quality Enhancement, Leveraging ODL for Sustainable Education and Operationalising APEL (C).
The highlights of SieQA 2019 included the welcome remark by Prof. Dr Shamsul Bin Sahibuddin, Pro Vice-Chancellor UTM KL, followed by the opening speech by Dato’ Dr. Rahmah Mohamed, the CEO of MQA. Three prominent keynote speakers, YBhg. Dato’ Prof. Ir. Dr. Mohd Saleh Jaafar, Deputy Higher Education Director General (Academic and Development), Prof. Dr. Jianxin Zhang, President of the Asia-Pacific Quality Network (APQN), China and Prof Dr. Khairiyah Yusoff, Director of UTM CEE had awed the audience with their presentations on strategies and challenges in achieving excellence in QA in the context of SDGs.
To conclude the event, a forum entitled “Harmonising Professional Programmes towards MQF 2.0 for Sustainable Development Goals” was moderated by Prof Dr Roziah Mohd Janor, the President of MyQAN. The forum featured eminent panelists including the CEO of MQA, the Chairman of EAC and the Director of Malaysian Dental Council, who shared their perspectives and engaged the audience on the overarching issues.
