MQA, FIBAA Agree To Strengthen Higher Education Qualification Recognition

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) and the Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation (FIBAA), a Germany-based international accreditation body, have agreed to implement mutual recognition to strengthen higher education quality assurance and facilitate cooperation between higher education institutions (HEIs) of both countries.

MQA chief executive officer Datuk Prof Dr Mohammad Shatar Sabran said the agreement was reached at the inaugural Malaysia-German Higher Education Summit 2026, opening broader opportunities for Malaysian and German universities to explore strategic and research collaborations.

He said the initiative also gives public and private universities in Malaysia opportunities to expand their international networks through dual degree programmes, double degree programmes, student exchanges, and collaborative research.

"We welcome universities in Malaysia to seize this opportunity by establishing strategic partnerships with universities in Germany," he said in a statement.

The summit, organised by MQA, FIBAA, and Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) in Berlin, Germany, on Nov 4 and 5, also focused on strategic issues shaping the future of higher education such as artificial intelligence (AI), lifelong learning, micro-credentials, and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

Also present were Malaysian Ambassador to Germany Mohamad Razdan Jamil, Ministry of Higher Education International Relations Division secretary Datin Noorazah Omar, FIBAA managing director Dr Nina Rotermund, German Association of Private Higher Education Institutions chairman Prof Dr Otmar Schneck, EMGS chief executive officer Novie Tajuddin, and MQA deputy chief executive officer (Quality Assurance) Prof Ts Dr M. Iqbal Saripan.

Mohammad Shatar added that the changing global higher education landscape demands that HEIs no longer operate in isolation but strengthen collaborations with domestic and international universities to stay relevant and meet current needs.

He said Malaysian HEIs should leverage Germany's TVET expertise to strengthen talent development and enhance graduate employability.

"Germany has a distinct advantage and reputation in the TVET sector. Hence, we want universities in Malaysia to take advantage of these advancements through collaborations that add value to graduate development and, in turn, boost employability.

"The collaboration also has the potential to contribute to efforts to position Malaysia as a global higher education hub, in line with the country's aspiration to expand the internationalisation of higher education as envisioned by Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir," he said.

In addition to creating more academic mobility opportunities, he said the summit is expected to increase student inflow between Germany and Malaysia through inter-university networks.

The summit brought together representatives from 17 countries and served as a platform to promote Malaysia's higher education capabilities and opportunities to the international higher education community.

-- BERNAMA