USM PENANG, 18 November 2023 – The Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) via the School of Management (SOM) in collaboration with the USM School of Industrial Technology (SOTI) has recently received the first batch of students for the full-fledged Bachelor of Management in Strategy and Organisation with Honours, minoring in Food and Technology through the microcredentials mode.

This pioneering programme, the first of its kind in Malaysia, signifies a significant step towards fostering a dynamic learning environment.

The inception of this programme was made possible through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between USM and QSR Brands (M) Holdings Bhd. that was inked in February 2023, with a collaborative effort that integrates academic expertise with industry insights.

QSR Brands (M) Holdings Bhd. is a prominent leading retail food industry in the country and is best known as the company that operates KFC and Pizza Hut restaurant chains. The company operates more than 830 KFC restaurants in Malaysia, Cambodia, Brunei and Singapore and over 475 Pizza Hut restaurants in Malaysia and Singapore.

The microcredentials mode offers a flexible and tailored approach to education which enables 14 learners from QSR Brands (M) Holdings Bhd. comprising of managers, regional, market and area coaches as well as senior executives from Kuala Lumpur, Sarawak, East Coast and Brunei to engage in a series of shorter and personalised courses.

These courses are purposely designed to enhance their knowledge, skills and competencies for upskilling purposes in the areas of business, management and food technology.

The commitment by QSR Brands (M) Holdings Bhd. to education is underscored by its role as a major employer in the region, with a workforce exceeding 35,000 employees across Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and Cambodia.

The flexible nature of this programme is tailored to accommodate full-time employment commitments, offering a unique learning opportunity for individuals within QSR Brands to earn digital certifications progressively towards an accredited degree from USM.

According to USM Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Seri Ir. Dr. Abdul Rahman Mohamed, this initiative aligns seamlessly with the USM vision, ‘Transforming Higher Education for a Sustainable Tomorrow’ and the values of USM - Quality, Equality, Availability, Accessibility, Affordability, and Appropriateness - are embodied in the microcredentials programme.

“By making education more inclusive and accessible to all types of learners, USM continues to promote the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 4 – Quality Education agenda through its educational initiatives,” he said.

The flexible nature of the microcredentials programme does not only meet the immediate upskilling needs of learners, but also paves the way for a formal qualification that will substantially widen learning opportunities and making lifelong learning a tangible and achievable reality.

Upon completion of all courses via microcredentials, learners will be recognised for having fulfilled the requirements for programme graduation, marking a significant milestone in their educational journey.

Source: Professor Dr. Noor Hazlina Ahmad (Dean School of Management, USM)/Text: Nur Farrah Ezlin Mohd Suhaimi