MICRO-CREDENTIALS: USM, UMS STRENGTHEN THE QUALITY OF FLEXIBLE EDUCATION

PENANG, 29 September 2026 – Flexible education and Micro-Credentials not only offer more adaptable learning opportunities but also require robust governance and quality assurance to ensure that the learning experience continues to meet academic standards.

In response to this need, the Quality Verification Centre (QVC), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), shared its management and implementation practices for flexible education, particularly Stand-Alone Micro-Credentials (SAMC), with the Universiti Malaysia Sabah Flexible Education Centre (UMSFLEC) during a strategic knowledge-sharing session held in conjunction with UMSFLEC’s benchmarking visit to USM recently.

The session focused on governance and quality assurance in the implementation of flexible education and Micro-Credentials, in line with the growing emphasis on flexibility, competency development and lifelong learning.

The UMSFLEC delegation was led by its Digital Learning Section Coordinator, Aminuddin Ibrahim Lastar, together with two officers, while USM was represented by USM QVC Coordinator, Dr. Nik Hadiyan Nik Azman, along with QVC officers.

Nik Hadiyan said the session also served as a platform for both institutions to exchange knowledge and experiences on approaches to managing flexible education and Micro-Credentials. He added that the session provided UMSFLEC with relevant input to support its planning and efforts to improve the implementation of programmes at UMS.

“The development of flexible education and Micro-Credentials reflects changes in the higher education landscape, which is increasingly focusing on more flexible and targeted forms of learning, including efforts to complement learning within existing academic programmes with relevant additional competencies. For students, this approach provides opportunities to acquire knowledge and skills through more flexible learning experiences, while supporting a culture of lifelong learning and competency development aligned with learning and career needs,” he said.

In this context, he said, quality assurance is a crucial element in ensuring that educational innovations introduced have clearly defined learning outcomes and academic standards. “The role of QVC is significant in supporting the Micro-Credential ecosystem, which not only emphasises flexibility in delivery but also ensures that the quality and value of the learning experience for students are given due attention,” he said.

The meeting also reflected the commitment of USM and UMS to expanding the sharing of expertise, experience and innovative practices in flexible education, thereby supporting the development of learning approaches that are more adaptive and responsive to students’ needs and changes in the higher education landscape. USM QVC described the visit by the UMSFLEC delegation as significant in strengthening broader collaborative initiatives in Micro-Credentials, digital learning, flexible education and learning innovation.