It is administered by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA), a statutory body under the purview of the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE).
With the rapid growth of the private education sector in Malaysia, the National Accreditation Board (Malay: Lembaga Akreditasi Negara) or LAN was established in 1996 to oversee the certification of standards and accreditation of academic programs provided by private colleges and universities in Malaysia.
[2] The MQF was finally adopted in 2007 and both the QAD and LAN were dissolved and their functions taken over by the MQA which was established on 1 November 2007 by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency Act 2007.
It is conferred as a formal recognised certificate to individuals who has shown capabilities that acquired or practised with competencies to do a task or work, which usually in the form of basic vocational skills.
Nonetheless, MQF determines standards for these certificates to ensure comparability and standardisation of student abilities.
Higher education, Vocational, Technical and Skills Diplomas encompasses capabilities and responsibilities that are wide-ranging and will at the end, lead to a career.
Diploma level education balances theory and practical applications, and stresses on instillation of the necessary values, ethics and attitudes in the respective disciplines.
It enables individuals to pair responsibilities, which require great autonomy in professional decision making.
The entrance to a master's degree is usually based on proven capabilities to pursue postgraduate studies in the selected fields.
A major part of the credits is at the level of a master's degree in the related field of study, continuing skills or specialisation.