Standards: Master's and Doctoral Degree

The goals, objectives, and learning outcomes of the program must be consistent with and support the vision and mission of HEP. c. The goals, objectives and learning outcomes of the master's program should include research and research training skills in addressing problems of concern. vii. The goals, objectives and learning outcomes of the doctoral program should include knowledge creation, novelty and innovation.

This requires the program to have clear statements of the learning outcomes to be achieved.

Enhanced Standards

Note: For the industry doctoral program „in the relevant field‟ should be read as „in the relevant industry.‟. The program must demonstrate how the defined research components contribute to the fulfillment of the programme's learning outcomes.

PROGRAMME DESIGN AND DELIVERY

Academic Autonomy

Basic Standards
Enhanced Standards

Programme Design and Supervision

Basic Standards

Programme Structure

Basic Standards
Basic Standards

Linkages with External Stakeholders

Basic Standards

The department should have sufficient autonomy to design the program structure and allocate the resources necessary for its implementation to ensure the achievement of learning outcomes. The department should have a defined process by which the program structure is established, assessed and evaluated with the involvement of academic staff and stakeholders. The program should be revised periodically to keep pace with knowledge developments in the field and with the needs of society.

Candidates should be provided with current written information about the program objectives, learning outcomes and assessment methods.

ASSESSMENT OF CANDIDATE LEARNING

Assessment and Learning

Basic Standards
Basic Standards

The candidate assessment methods must be described, documented and communicated to the candidates (for example information about their duration, diversity, weight and coverage). A dissertation/dissertation examination committee must be constituted to ensure validity, reliability and fairness in the assessment of the dissertation/dissertation. The HEP must ensure that internal assessments are comparable to those of external best practices.

External expertise (national and international) should be consulted during the review and provide feedback on the assessment procedures.

Management of Candidate Assessment

Basic Standards

Where an examiner is without the necessary qualification, there must be sufficient experience in the relevant field and the appointment must be approved by the HEP Senate. The master's thesis must be examined by at least 2 examiners, one of whom is the examiner. For Ph.D., including Ph.D. in the case of published work, the thesis must be examined by at least 3 examiners, of which 2 are examiners.

The HEP must provide a mechanism for candidates to appeal the outcome of their thesis / thesis examination / viva voce.

CANDIDATE SELECTION AND SUPPORT SERVICES

Admission and Selection

Basic standards

Articulation Regulations, Credit Transfer and Credit Exemption

Basic Standards

Candidate Transfer

Basic Standards

Candidate Support Services and Co-Curricular Activities

Basic Standards

Candidate Representation and Participation

Basic Standards

Alumni

Basic Standards

The HEP must have an organizational structure that includes support services and co-curricular activities. The HEP must clearly define and effectively disseminate policies, regulations and processes related to candidate representation and participation. HEP must clearly define and effectively disseminate policies, regulations and processes related to alumni development and operations.

The RDP must involve alumni so that they can contribute to the development of the HEP.

ACADEMIC STAFF

Recruitment and Management

Basic Standards

When there is only one supervisor, the supervisor must be a full-time staff member of the award RDP. When there is more than one supervisor, the main supervisor must be a full-time staff member of the award RDP. For the industry doctoral program, in addition to academic supervisor(s), an industry supervisor(s) must be appointed.

The mentor's research skills, experience and specializations must be aligned with the candidate's research field. Recognition, rewards and pay must be commensurate with appropriate workload distribution and meritorious supervision based on transparent policies and procedures. HEP should establish a supervisory committee to guide candidates in research planning and dissertation/thesis preparation.

Service and Development

Basic Standards

The HEP should encourage participation in professional, academic and research communities at national or international level. The HEP should encourage research activities that go beyond postdoctoral research and that will benefit industry and the community. The HEP should have a mentoring system in place to improve the quality of supervision.

RESEARCH RESOURCES

Physical Facilities

Basic Standards

Research Expertise

Basic Standard
Enhanced Standard

Financial Allocation

Basic Standards
Enhanced Standard

Online Resources

Basic Standards
Enhanced Standard

Networks and Collaborations

Basic Standard

The physical facilities of a program are primarily driven by the needs of the program and the specific research area. The HEP should have a policy for the effective use of information and communication technology (ICT) in the programme. Research expertise can be provided internally by HEP or obtained from an external source.

The HEP should have a policy or guidelines on the development and management of research expertise. The HEP must have clear boundaries of responsibility and authority for budgeting and resource allocation that takes into account the specific needs of the program. HEP must have budgetary and procurement processes in place to ensure that its resources are sufficient and that it is able to use its finances effectively.

HEP must provide mechanisms for obtaining, disseminating and monitoring the use of online resources. The HEP should facilitate cooperation to promote the exchange of knowledge between national and/or international candidates. HEP should facilitate networking and cooperation between researchers and institutions at national and international level.

HEP must have a policy and a future plan of integration and cooperation with national and international institutions. HEP should provide adequate facilities and adequate funding for networking and collaboration among researchers.

PROGRAMME MONITORING AND REVIEW

Monitoring and Review

Basic Standards

The research must be carried out independently and in accordance with a set of program guidelines, ethics and code of conduct, including e.g. guidelines on plagiarism. Any changes or new proposals for procedures and processes for the research program must be approved by HEP. The HEP must ensure the achievement of the learning outcomes as set out in area 1 of this document.

The HEP must ensure the attainment of graduate qualifications as set out in the Malaysian Qualifications Framework (MQF). For the business PhD programme, an MOU or MOA must exist between HEP and the industrial partner on intellectual property rights.

Stakeholder Involvement

Basic Standard
Enhanced standard

AREA 8: LEADERSHIP, GOVERNANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

Governance

Basic Standards

Programme Leadership

Basic Standards
Enhanced Standard

Programme Administration

Basic Standards
Enhanced Standard

Academic and Research Records

Basic Standards
Enhanced Standard

The HEP should clearly articulate criteria for the structure, appointment, roles and responsibilities of program leadership. Program leadership should be held by those with appropriate qualifications and research experience. HEP should establish processes for communication between departments and leaders in matters related to human resource management, graduate candidate management, allocation of research resources and decision making.

The RDP must ensure that the leadership accepts the responsibility to create a research environment that generates innovation and creativity. The administrative staff of the department must be qualified, appropriate and sufficient to support the implementation of the program and related activities. The procedures and related documents must be made available for the administration of the program.

HEP should have training schemes for management of administrative staff for the programme's specific needs, including e.g. risk management, maintenance of specialized equipment and technical skills. The department's policies and practices regarding the nature and security of records related to the program must be consistent with those of the HEP and the fund provider and also comply with the relevant laws and regulations. The department shall implement policies that have been established by the HEP regarding the individual's rights to privacy and the confidentiality of records.

The department must continually review policies regarding security and efficient document retrieval, including increased use of electronic technology and associated security systems.

CONTINUAL QUALITY IMPROVEMENT

Quality Improvement

Basic Standards

STANDARDS: MASTER’S AND DOCTORAL DEGREE

BY COURSEWORK AND MIXED MODE

COURSEWORK AND RESEARCH)

AREA 1: VISION, MISSION, EDUCATIONAL GOALS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Statement of Programme Aims, Objectives and Learning Outcomes

Basic Standards

Learning Outcomes

Basic Standards

Programme Design, Learning-Teaching and Supervision
Programme Management
Linkages with External Stakeholders

Basic Standards

Postgraduate programs are the building blocks that support HEP's larger vision and mission. The HEP should have a policy on academic autonomy for the department and academic staff that reflects the intellectual maturity of the HEP. The education's structure, learning-teaching and guidance must support the achievement of the education's learning outcomes.

Program review and evaluation should involve stakeholders as well as national and international peers. It is one of the most important measures to show the achievement of learning outcomes. Therefore, candidate assessment methods must be clear, consistent, effective, reliable, consistent with current practices and supportive of achieving learning outcomes.

There should be procedures available for candidates to bring issues or concerns to the attention of the relevant authorities. iv. Where an examiner is without the required qualification, there must be sufficient experience in the relevant field and the appointment is subject to the approval of the HEP Senate. The number of candidates to be admitted to the program is generally determined by the capacity of the HEP and the number of qualified applicants.

HEP should engage alumni so that they can contribute to the development of HEP. iii. HEP should establish a policy for the appointment of teaching staff and supervisors to ensure the quality and sustainability of the programme. iv. Where there is only one supervisor, the supervisor must be a full-time staff member of the delivering HEP. vi.

The HEP should have a mentoring system in place to improve the quality of teaching and supervision.

Table 1: Nomenclature of Postgraduate Degrees Awarded Qualification

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

Teaching and Research Expertise

The HEP should value the contribution of teaching and research expertise to the programme. Financial allocation refers to the disbursement of funds for program management and sustainability. The HEP should have clear lines of responsibility and authority for budgeting and resource allocation that takes into account the specific needs of the program. ii.

The HEP should have a system for disbursing teaching and research funds to support the program. Departmental policies and practices should be aligned with the purpose of the HEP. The direction of the program should be maintained by those with appropriate qualifications, teaching and research experience.

Collaborator refers to an external entity involved in the program and/or with the candidates. Program Advisory Board refers to individuals invited by HEP to provide feedback on the program. Program structure refers to the design and format of study/mixed/research programs.

Quality unit refers to an entity within the HEP that advises and manages program quality and compliance with standards. Research project refers to the documentation of the research component prepared and submitted by the candidate for the award of the program through coursework.