PENANG, 16 August 2016 – Flexibility in education that allows for the local education system to be redesigned in line with the current technological changes can be seen as among those that would shape the future of higher education in the country.

The Minister of Higher Education, Dato’ Seri Idris Jusoh said that, there have been many changes that shape people’s lives today and such changes are influencing the education system in the country, especially higher education.

He said that, those changes require all parties to look at things in the broader sense, on how teaching and learning techniques should be implemented in the local universities.

“Current rapid developments, more so in this era of technology, are providing choices for students to decide on their areas of study, where and also when they want to study.”

“There is a major possibility in the future that a student could study in more than one university, and this is not an impossible scenario as it is already happening at universities abroad,” he said.

Idris said that in a press conference after officiating and delivering the keynote address in conjunction with the Flexible Education Colloquium (FEC) 2016, the first to be held in the country and hosted by Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), here recently.

Also present at the ceremony were the Chairman, USM Board of Governors, Tan Sri Datuk Dr. Zulkefli A. Hassan; USM Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Dr. Omar Osman; principal officers of the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE), and Vice-Chancellors of other higher educational institutions among others.

He added that, KPT is committed in redesigning the local higher education system in ensuring the success of flexible education, including in enhancing the Massive Open Online Course (MOOCs) programme which has been implemented in the higher educational institutions in the country.

“We would ensure that there would be a mechanism for credit transfers and the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) would also be looking into the best means in offering credits for online courses with the currently available technology.”

“The present education system already has various dedicated programmes which have taken into account and catered to the flexibility in the teaching and learning process, and is seen as giving a major impact, including in the reduction of study fees,” he said.

He added that, his Ministry would also be looking at the best means of delivering the highest standards in education for the students and to encourage universities to answer the call in redesigning the teaching and learning process and shaping the future of education in the country.

“MoHE is always committed towards implementing the best education system that could be accessed or benefitted by the people of this country,” he said and praised the proactive step taken by USM in ensuring the success of FEC 2016.

Translation: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin

Text: Marziana Mohamed Alias