People in this country who do not have the opportunity to improve their academic qualifications conventionally can now continue their studies through work-based learning (WBL). Chief Executive Officer of the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA), Prof. Datuk Dr. Mohammad Shatar Sabran, said the studies can be followed either partially, comprehensively or as an 'apprentice' programme. He said that WBL previously ensured that students received adequate learning and training from the industry involved, around 60 percent of their total time, while the other 40 percent could be spent in lectures. "The latest trend, WBL 2.0, provides flexibility to students with collaboration with specific industries, students can spend their entire time during their studies in the industry.  "WBL 2.0 provides recognition to workers who have served in any agency or organization for at least 15 years and are studying at universities that offer the method," he said.Commenting further, Mohammad Shatar said that through WBL 2.0, the community has the opportunity to win academic awards based on their performance and competencies, whether at the certificate, diploma and beyond level. He said that in WBL 2.0, universities involved in offering programmes will implement mapping with programmes or fields of work that potential students can pursue, as was recently implemented in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Higher Education and the Ministry of Defence. "In the uniformed military, there are various fields of work carried out by its members, such as engineering, medicine and chefs, but they are also required to attend several structured modules or workshops," he said.  Mohammad Shatar said that through WBL 2.0, for example in the culinary field, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) will award academic qualifications according to levels such as diplomas and bachelor's degrees to students after mapping the modules they follow similar to those at UiTM, even though they are not physically at UiTM. If there is a difference, he said, the candidate will be asked by UiTM to take additional courses to meet the equivalency requirements. "This initiative was introduced for the first time in Malaysia in line with the wishes of the Minister of Higher Education, Datuk Seri Diraja Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir, to strengthen the PSH agenda through flexible education, thereby helping to make this country a global education hub." "So, it is hoped that universities will increase their WBL2.0 offerings by providing opportunities for workers currently serving in organizations, agencies and so on to have much higher academic certificates," he said.
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Date of Input: 31/12/2024 | Updated: 05/01/2025 | aidawati