An exploratory study of a potential framework for mutual recognition agreement (MRA)

The pursuit for higher degrees is accelerating in the country. With mushrooming foreign and local graduates from non-university and university status institutions, it is critical to explore the types of qualification awarded and the existing platform for recognition and accreditation purposes. The objectives of this study are: (i) to gather information with regard to current policies and practices pertaining to recognition and accreditation systems of the higher education sector, with specific reference to Malaysia and china (ii) to review the existing policy between accreditation and recognition agencies/providers and (iii) to recommend best practices, guidelines and strategies for practical implementation in Malaysia. The methodology pursuit in Malaysia and china involved inspection of documents and purposive interviews. The research was implemented from May 2009 to november 2009. The results of the research revealed that though the worldview of mutual recognition agreement is to liberalise the education sector, the authentic situations prevailing in the country requires the purposive liberalization of the education sector, with periodic reviews for its appropriateness and relevance for the needs of the country (provisional and conditional), thereby ensuring regulatory, review and quality sustainability. The customized regulatory framework would be a prerequisite (conditional), with due attention be given to either implicit or explicit conditions in the recognition of academic degrees. In deliberating the mutual recognition agreement with jurisdiction including those which are more educationally advanced, selective emerging \u27niche\u27 areas and/or supportive (conditional) have been proposed. Finally, to strengthen the existing regulatory frame work, innovative provision in this legal framework is recommended