Degree recognition in Malaysia

Interesting article about degree recognition by the Malaysian Public Services Department: PSD accreditation.

Here's a snippet:

• ... Therefore, degrees from top-notch universities such as Cambridge, Oxford or Harvard may not be recognised by PSD simply because no applications have been submitted by them!
  
  ...
  
  There was previously a loophole which many unscrupulous agencies happily exploited by turning into educational entities overnight and recruiting students for bogus universities registered in places like Norfolk Island, Australia; British Virgin Island, United Kingdom; Turks and Cocos Island, UK; and Hawaii, the United States.
  
  PSD had until not too long ago granted recognition to all masters and doctorate qualifications if one’s first degree was recognised by PSD.
  
  So we had many people with recognised bachelor degrees turning to diploma mills to buy masters qualifications – and had those certificates recognised by the government.
  
  PSD took a long time to wise up; it has since put in place a requirement that all postgraduate courses must be studied full-time on campus in order to be recognised. This is apparently to prevent “suspicious” universities that don’t even have proper campus facilities from selling their certificates to the unwary Malaysian public.

 

So does this mean PSD won't recognize University of London postgraduate D/L degrees?

 

We had another thread on this: http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11022

I don't know whether the University of London applied for approval.

 

Another example of distance learning suffering at the hands of degree mills. This one though involves a government which makes it even more worrisome to me.

 

I think that the Maylasian bar authorities have gone back and forth over accepting the U of London external LL.B. They accept NO other external program.

 

Clement Hii is the executive director of SEGI group that own 17 private colleges in Malaysia. SEGI being a public listed company expect that all their programs and courses get automatic recognition by Ministry of Education, LAN and PSD without going through the proper process. Fortunately things are changing here in Malaysia and even how big you are still have to comply with regulations and I think Clement Hii published the article out of his frustration over failure to get approval for various Bachelor and Master degree programs that are offered illegally by his group of Institutions.


PSD has a comprehensive list of approved Universities. One can call them to find out if their university or program is recognized or can write to them to receive an official letter regarding the status of their University.

PSD also has a well defined criterion for institutions to seek recognition if they are not in their list or if they have developed new programs and it include distance learning as well. The condition is that Institution must apply directly and not through an agent.

I think it’s a very straight forward process and after all ODA has a similar procedure whereby all foreign degree providers have to apply to ODA to seek recognition to be able to get their qualification accepted in Oregon.


Peter Chin

 

Background can be found here

Offer degrees from Bolton Business School - see http://tinyurl.com/4t7jd

Offer an MBA from USC, Australia - see http://tinyurl.com/5efcq

USC? Maybe USQ? I do not recall and Australian university being abbreviated to USC....help me here!

It all appears to be approved by LAN.

Cheers,

George

 

University of Southern Cweensland.

C'mon George! You should know that.

Actually, judging by the course names, it's the University of the Sunshine Coast. For example, see http://www.fh-fulda.de/zv/aamt/internationaloffice/usc/Student_Guides/On%20Campus%20MBA1.pdf

 

Which programs specifically can SEGI not get LAN approval? In other words, what are the illegal programs they are currently operating in Malaysia, Peter?

 

Amused, look at the LAN website and see how many programs of SEGI group of college are accredited:

http://www.lan.gov.my/index2.htm

probably none....


For degree granting (3+0) Institutions, it is compulsory to get their programs accredited by LAN not just minimum standard of approval. Institution can award certtificate or diploma with minimum standard approval but no degrees. Many students and employers do not know this regulation and just think that having LAN or MOE apporval is enough for degree granting.


Peter Chin