MQA Must Strengthen Role As Builder Of Trust In Higher Education - Zambry

SEPANG, July 23 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) must expand its role beyond accreditation, documentation, compliance, and audits to become a key enabler of transformation and a builder of trust in Malaysia’s higher education ecosystem, said Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.

Delivering his keynote address at the MQA Presidents’ Forum (Universities) 2026 themed “RPTM 2026-2035: Shaping the Future of Malaysian Higher Education in an Era of Global Transformation” here today, he said quality assurance today carries a broader mission in building confidence, enabling innovation, strengthening mobility, and safeguarding the reputation of Malaysia as a trusted higher education destination at the international level.

"For many people, quality assurance is often associated with accreditation, documentation, compliance and audits. This remains important, but they no longer define the full purpose of quality assurance. 

"Today, quality assurance performs a much greater mission. It builds confidence. It enables innovation. It strengthens mobility. And it safeguards reputations. It positions Malaysia as a trusted higher education destination. And thank you very much for your trust in Malaysia," he said.

Zambry said the current higher education landscape required a quality assurance system that was agile, responsive, internationally connected, and future-oriented as learning pathways continued to evolve beyond traditional qualifications.

He said students today were increasingly combining university degrees with professional certifications, pursuing micro-credentials and engaging in lifelong learning, requiring higher education systems to adapt to new forms of learning and recognition.

"This is where MQA plays a strategic national role, not merely as a regulator, but as an enabler of transformation. Not merely as a guardian of standards, but as a builder of confidence," he said.

Zambry said trust was a strategic advantage for Malaysia as an international education hub, with students from more than 180 countries pursuing studies here, adding that maintaining confidence in the country’s higher education system required strict adherence to quality standards, including ensuring the authenticity of qualifications and credibility of programmes offered by institutions.

"Why do people come and study here? Because they trust our system. They have confidence in our system, quality, curricula, pedagogy and professors. All the teaching staff have that quality that internationally is recognized," he also said.

He added that efforts to strengthen quality assurance were aligned with the Malaysia Higher Education Blueprint 2026-2035, which aimed to develop a globally respected, trusted, and future-ready higher education ecosystem.

Zambry also highlighted the importance of ASEAN collaboration in strengthening higher education, saying the future of the region would not only be shaped by trade but also by education, with Malaysia believing that knowledge grows through sharing, with innovation advanced through collaboration, and quality strengthened through mutual trust.

Meanwhile, MQA chief executive officer Datuk Prof Mohamad Shatar Sabran said the inaugural MQA Presidents’ Forum (Universities) 2026 marked an important milestone for the agency as it brought together quality assurance leaders, university presidents, and vice-chancellors from across ASEAN under one strategic platform.

He said MQA had for many years convened quality assurance agencies, accreditation experts, and policymakers to deliberate on strengthening quality assurance systems, adding that the discussions had contributed significantly to advancing quality culture, mutual recognition and regional collaboration.

“Today, however, we take a bold step forward. For the first time, we are bringing together not only quality assurance leaders, but also the presidents and vice-chancellors of universities across ASEAN under one strategic platform,” he said.

Mohammad Shatar also said the initiative reflected the reality that the future of higher education could not be shaped by quality assurance agencies, governments or universities acting independently, but required collective leadership, shared responsibility and meaningful partnerships.

He added that the theme of this year’s forum, “Leading Quality Assurance for a Future Ready and Integrated ASEAN Higher Education”, reflected the shared aspiration to build an innovative, trusted, inclusive and future-ready higher education ecosystem, with discussions focusing on graduate employability, digital transformation, innovation, and future-ready learning as well as learning without limits.

The one-day forum, organised by MQA in collaboration with Diamond Strategic Partners Anubavam Technologies (India) and CE Nexus (the Philippines), as well as Gold Strategic Partners Singapore Institute of Management (Singapore), Fandi Ads (Malaysia), Vialing Sdn Bhd (Malaysia) and Mastersoft ERP Solutions (India), was attended by 200 participants from 11 ASEAN member countries.

-- BERNAMA