COVER FEATURE
INGENIEUR
COVER FEATURE
INGENIEUR
REDESIGNING HIGHER EDUCATION
Representatives of the Board of Engineers Malaysia met Ir . Dr Siti Hamisah binti Tapsir , Director- General of Higher Education , Malaysia to discuss the present and future trends in engineering education in the country . Many developments are in progress and more changes are expected as future graduates gear up for the fourth industrial revolution .
As a Professional Engineer and former University lecturer , Ir . Dr Siti Hamisah binti Tapsir , Director-General of Higher Education , Department of Higher Education , holds engineering and education close to her heart . Her professional training and teaching experience enable her to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the country ’ s higher education system . In an interview for The Ingenieur magazine with Dato ’ Ir . Fong Tian Yong ( Editor ) and Prof . Ir . Dr KS Kannan ( Publication Committee Member ), Ir . Dr Siti Hamisah is pleased that Malaysia has progressed as a higher education provider in many ways . She also stated that in order to stay relevant in the era of technology convergence , the Ministry of Higher Education ( MOHE ) has aligned its priorities through the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2015-2025 ( Higher Education ) and the Redesigning Initiatives .
Over the years , Malaysia has moved up the ladder in the higher education sector in terms of student population , recognition and ranking . Increased local and foreign students intake and offerings of a wide range of courses have made the country an attractive education hub in the region . There are 1.25 million students in institutions of higher learning and about a third or 350,000 are in technical studies ( from certificate to postgraduate level ).
Technical and Vocational Education Training ( TVET ) have been given added emphasis . TVET courses are both modular and stackable so that students can choose the skills sets they desire based on their level of readiness , experience and need . TVET related courses have become more accessible when four university colleges in various parts of the country emerged as full universities in February 2007 . These are Universiti Malaysia Perlis , Technical University of Malaysia Malacca , Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia and Universiti Malaysia Pahang . They now form a consortium rebranded as Malaysian Technical University ( MTU ) since 2015 .
In the engineering field , the Board of Engineers Malaysia ’ s ( BEM ) signatory to the Washington Accord in 2009 , contributed to the wider recognition of degrees from Malaysia . This is a multi-lateral agreement between bodies responsible for accreditation or recognition of tertiary-level engineering qualifications . Accredited engineering degrees are recognised in 19 countries ( based on the number of full Washington Accord signatories ). This international recognition for engineering programmes has helped to attract more students to local universities .
Currently , there are 10 foreign university branch campuses in Malaysia , five from UK , three
8 VOL 72 OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2017