Nod for 820 varsities in China

KUALA LUMPUR, June 28 — The Higher Education Ministry has sanctioned 820 institutions of higher learning in China, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Dr Hou Kok Chung said all the institutions of higher learning were recommended by the Education Ministry of China through the “Framework Agreement to Facilitate Mutual Recognition in Academic Higher Education Qualifications” signed between the Malaysian government and the republic on April 28, 2011.

“The list of 820 recognised universities will be updated in the Malaysian Qualifications Agency’s (MQA) website by July,” he said in reply to a question from Liang Teck Meng (BN-Simpang Renggam) in Parliament today.

Liang had wanted to know why the ministry recognised degrees from China but not from Taiwan.
Hou said since the mutual recognition agreement between Malaysia and China was a “government-to-government” (G2G) initiative, more universities from the republic were eligible.

However, the MQA was in the process of finalising details with the Higher Education Evaluation and Accreditation Council of Taiwan (HEEACT), aimed at recognising universities from Taiwan, he said.
“Once the details are finalised soon, a Statement of Confidence will be issued by the MQA and HEEACT,” he said.

Hou said apart from Taiwan, the government also had plans to sign similar agreements with New Zealand, Australia and the United States. — Bernama