UMPSA recognised as QVC Reference Centre to strengthen national lifelong learning agenda

PEKAN, 30 July 2026 - Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) has further strengthened its role as a leader in Malaysia's higher education sector after receiving full approval from the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) to serve as a Quality Verification Centre (QVC). 

The university is authorised to conduct quality verification assessments of stand-alone micro-credentials (SAMCs) from Certificate Level (Level 3) to Doctoral Degree Level (Level 8).

The achievement recognises UMPSA's ability to ensure that micro-credential programmes offered in Malaysia meet the prescribed quality assurance standards.

According to UMPSA Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ts. Dr. Yatimah Alias, the achievement strengthens UMPSA's position as a national reference centre, particularly for the East Coast states of Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan, in SAMC quality verification and the development of a more flexible, inclusive and high-impact lifelong learning ecosystem.

"This role is in line with the university's aim of widening access to education for communities, industry and government agencies through recognised learning pathways.

"As a Quality Verification Centre, UMPSA is responsible for assessing and verifying SAMC courses offered by higher education institutions, industry and qualified training providers.

"The assessment also ensures that every course meets the Guidelines to Good Practices (GGP) and is aligned with the Malaysian Qualifications Framework (MQF) before it is listed in the Malaysian Qualifications Agency's Micro-credential Register," she said.

Professor Ts. Dr. Yatimah said the recognition reflected MQA's confidence in UMPSA's expertise and commitment to strengthening quality assurance in higher education and supporting the country's lifelong learning agenda.

"This full approval places a major responsibility on UMPSA to ensure that every micro-credential course it verifies meets academic standards and industry requirements.

"At the same time, UMPSA will continue to serve as the East Coast's QVC reference hub, helping higher education institutions, agencies and industry develop high-quality, relevant micro-credential programmes that receive national recognition," she said.

She expressed her appreciation to MQA for selecting UMPSA and to the Department of Higher Education (JPT), Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), for the confidence placed in the university.

She said the recognition would create more opportunities for strategic collaboration among universities, industry and government agencies to advance the upskilling, reskilling and lifelong learning agenda.

The initiative aims to increase the number of SAMC providers obtaining verification through UMPSA's QVC. This will further strengthen the university's reputation in Advanced Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) while supporting the implementation of MOHE and MQA policies on lifelong learning.

Through UMPSA's QVC, training providers, higher education institutions, industry and government agencies can undertake a systematic online verification process to ensure their micro-credential programmes meet the required quality standards.

UMPSA is currently focusing on seven main fields under the National Education Code (NEC): Education; Arts and Humanities; Social Sciences, Journalism and Information; Business, Administration and Law; Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics; Information and Communication Technologies; and Engineering, Manufacturing and Construction.

UMPSA was among the first four higher education institutions selected by MQA to perform the QVC function and subsequently met the required performance criteria for full approval.

This recognition further strengthens UMPSA's reputation as a technology- and engineering-focused institution that excels in education and research and leads national efforts in micro-credential quality assurance and the development of talent for the future economy.

In addition to the Quality Verification Centre, UMPSA's Centre for Flexible Learning and Micro-Credentials (FLEXMC) and its Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) Assessment Centre benefit communities across the country, particularly on the East Coast, while supporting the university's role as a national leader in technical education and digital innovation.

By: Mimi Rabita Haji Abd Wahit, Centre for Corporate Communications
Translation by: Aminatul Nor Mohamed Said, UMPSA Career Centre