Agensi Kelayakan Malaysia MQA

Overview

Agensi Kelayakan Malaysia (Malaysian Qualifications Agency, MQA) is the statutory national quality assurance agency for higher education in Malaysia. The Agency was established to implement the Malaysian Qualifications Framework (MQF), accredit higher education programmes, and maintain a national register of accredited qualifications. The MQA’s head office is in Cyberjaya and it operates as an agency overseeing quality assurance for public and private higher education providers across Malaysia.

History and Legal Framework

The MQA was formally established on 1 November 2007 following the enactment of the Malaysian Qualifications Agency Act 2007 (Act 679). Its creation consolidated several existing quality-assurance functions from various bodies into a single statutory agency responsible for implementing and maintaining the MQF and a national quality assurance regime. The Act defines the Agency’s powers, duties and governance arrangements, and provides the legal basis for programme accreditation, institutional audits and the Malaysian Qualifications Register (MQR).

Mission, Vision and Objectives

Mission: To facilitate quality-assured higher education and qualifications that meet national and international standards, supporting access, employability and lifelong learning.

Vision: To ensure a quality-assured Malaysian higher-education system that is recognised for credibility and relevance.

The Agency’s principal objectives include implementing the Malaysian Qualifications Framework as the national reference for levels and learning outcomes; accrediting programmes; maintaining the Malaysian Qualifications Register; promoting continuous improvement by providers; and facilitating recognition and articulation of qualifications both domestically and internationally. These strategic aims position MQA as both regulator and enabler of quality in Malaysia’s higher education sector.

Governance, Structure and Independence

The MQA is a statutory body established under federal law and operates under the oversight of the Ministry responsible for higher education. Governance is exercised through a Council or Board established by the Act; the Council provides strategic direction while a Chief Executive Officer (or equivalent) manages day-to-day operations. The Act describes the appointment, roles and powers of the Council and the Agency’s officers, and allows ministerial directions within the statutory framework. While the Agency functions with a degree of operational autonomy typical of national quality agencies, it remains accountable to government structures as set out in the founding legislation.

Accreditation and Quality Evaluation Role in Higher Education

The MQA’s core functions are accreditation of higher education programmes, quality assurance of providers, and stewardship of the Malaysian Qualifications Framework. Accreditation processes assess whether specific programmes meet established standards and learning outcomes; accredited programmes are entered in the Malaysian Qualifications Register (MQR), which publishes programme and provider accreditation status, award levels and validity periods. In addition to programme accreditation, the Agency issues policies and procedures (such as the Code of Practice for Programme Accreditation) that guide institutional quality assurance and periodic review. Through these mechanisms the MQA seeks to protect learners and employers, and to raise the quality and comparability of Malaysian qualifications.

International Cooperation and Network Memberships

The MQA maintains active international engagement to promote recognition, benchmarking and mutual learning. It is a member of regional and global quality assurance networks and cooperates with counterpart agencies worldwide. Notable relationships include membership and participation in organisations such as the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE) and regional quality networks (for example APQN and related consortia), which support collaboration on standards, good practice and cross-border recognition. The Agency also signs memoranda of understanding and bilateral agreements to facilitate qualification recognition and joint activities.

Current and Future Impact on Higher Education

The MQA has had a substantive impact on standardising and raising the transparency of higher education quality in Malaysia through the implementation of the MQF and the establishment of the MQR. By centralising accreditation functions and publishing accredited programmes, the Agency supports student choice, employer confidence and cross-border comparability. Ongoing developments have included updates to accreditation processes, greater emphasis on learning outcomes and employability, and enhanced digital services (such as public registers and online accreditation tools). Looking forward, the Agency’s continuing focus on aligning national standards with international practices, strengthening institutional quality cultures, and facilitating regional recognition is likely to shape the trajectory of Malaysian higher education—especially in areas such as skills alignment, lifelong learning and cross-border education.

Summary

Agensi Kelayakan Malaysia (MQA) is Malaysia’s statutory quality assurance agency for higher education, established by Act in 2007 to implement the Malaysian Qualifications Framework and accredit higher education programmes. The Agency combines regulatory authority with quality-enhancement aims, operating under governance arrangements set out in legislation while participating actively in international quality networks. Through accreditation, the Malaysian Qualifications Register and policy instruments, the MQA plays a central role in shaping the credibility, comparability and continuous improvement of Malaysian higher education.

FAQs

1. What is the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA)?

   The MQA is the statutory agency responsible for quality assurance of higher education in Malaysia: it accredits programmes, implements the Malaysian Qualifications Framework (MQF) and maintains the Malaysian Qualifications Register (MQR).

2. When was the MQA established?

   The MQA was established on 1 November 2007 under the Malaysian Qualifications Agency Act 2007 (Act 679).

3. How can I check if a programme is accredited?

   Accredited programmes and their status are published in the Malaysian Qualifications Register (MQR), which is maintained by the MQA and is publicly accessible. The Agency’s accreditation documents and codes of practice further explain procedures and validity periods.

4. What is the Malaysian Qualifications Framework (MQF)?

   The MQF is the national reference framework that defines qualification levels, expected learning outcomes and pathways for articulation between qualifications; the MQA implements and uses the MQF as the basis for accreditation standards.

5. Is the MQA connected to international QA networks?

   Yes—MQA engages with global and regional quality assurance networks (such as INQAAHE and APQN) and pursues bilateral and multilateral cooperation to support recognition and quality benchmarking.

6. What is the Malaysian Qualifications Register (MQR)?

   The MQR is the official registry of accredited higher education qualifications in Malaysia, listing programmes, providers, levels and accreditation validity periods; it is used by students, employers and other stakeholders to verify accreditation status.

7. How does MQA influence international students and recognition?

   By maintaining nationally defined standards and publishing accredited qualifications, MQA helps international students, employers and foreign agencies assess the comparability and credibility of Malaysian qualifications; its international cooperation work supports mutual recognition and cross-border quality assurance.

8. Where can I find official information about MQA?

   Official information, publications, guidelines and contact details are available on the Agency’s website and in statutory documents such as the Malaysian Qualifications Agency Act 2007.

9. How does uniRank describe MQA?

   According to uniRank, the Malaysian Qualifications Agency is included among higher-education related organisations profiled in its portal, reflecting MQA’s role within the national higher education ecosystem.

Organization Name

Agensi Kelayakan Malaysia
Malaysian Qualifications Agency

Acronym

MQA

Year of Establishment

1/11/2007

Control Type

Entity Type

Non-Profit

Geo Focus and Coverage

National

Recognized by

n.a.

Affiliations or Memberships

n.a.

Number of Member Universities or Accredited Institutions

n.a.

Address

Menara PKNS-PJ Level 14B Jalan Yong Shook Lin
Petaling Jaya
46050 Selangor Darul Ehsan Malaysia

Phone

+60 3 7968 6399

Fax

+60 3 756 9496

n.a.

Official Social Media Channels

Facebook

Agensi Kelayakan Malaysia's Facebook page

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Agensi Kelayakan Malaysia's X page

LinkedIn

Not available

YouTube

Agensi Kelayakan Malaysia's YouTube channel

Instagram

Agensi Kelayakan Malaysia's Instagram page

Wikipedia Article

Agensi Kelayakan Malaysia's Wikipedia article

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