HAVE you ever wondered how a person earns a Doctorate, Masters or Bachelors degree without going to university? (pic below) In many countries, paper qualifications are for sale. You can get a degree for a fee.
There are universities that sell degrees for money. Often, these universities are called Diploma Mills. They churn out degrees for anyone who can afford to buy them.
A title behind a name is very important for some people. Imagine adding a title behind your name:
Dr. Lawrence Ong
Wendy Lee, M.A.
Ahmad Awang ,B.Sc.
For some people, it is very important. They want people to believe that they are people of standing in society, people who are educated, people who have gone to a university, people who can be trusted, etc.
At one time, this was a craze in Malaysia. Overnight, you hear people adding titles to their names. No one knew whether they were real titles or bogus ones!
You can now get a title legally without going to a university in Malaysia. Can you believe it?
In the past, education meant you had to go to a university.
You must study for 3–10 years before you get a degree. This was the traditional route we were used to. However, things have changed.
When students can stay at home and sit for SPM or STPM, why can’t students get a degree without going to a university? It is possible! Again, it is legal!
The Malaysian Qualification Authority (MQA) is the sole government authority that monitors “qualifications” in Malaysia. In a new development, MQA has introduced several new ways to earn “qualifications”.
If you have working experience and are a mature student, you can transfer your experience to gain a recognised degree. You can get a Diploma, Bachelors.
Masters or even a Doctorate without stepping foot in a university. The degree you get is recognised by MQA and it is legal.
This is very good news for working adults, housewives, retired people and anyone who dreams of being a “graduate”. If you want a title behind your name, now you can have it! It is recognised by MQA and it is legal!
What is APEL?
Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) is a systematic process of identification, documentation, assessment and accreditation of prior experiential learning, i.e., knowledge, skills and attitudes, to determine the extent to which an individual has achieved the desired learning outcomes for access to a programme of study and the award of credit for the award of academic qualifications.
Through APEL, it recognises lifelong learning and enhances social inclusion by providing access to academic qualifications for those who might otherwise be excluded by a lack of formal qualifications or work demands.
APEL provides an opportunity for individuals who have acquired non-formal and informal learning but lack formal academic qualifications to gain recognition in the form of credits throughout their work and life experiences.
3 APEL categories
There are three sections under APEL: They are:
APEL.A (for admission into tertiary studies)
APEL.C (for award of credits towards a course)
APEL.Q (for award of academic qualifications)
The three APEL categories have been introduced by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency, MQA starting with APEL.A in 2011 for admission to the Bachelor’s Degree programme (APEL T-6), APEL.C in 2016 for the purpose of awarding credit and APEL.Q for the purpose of awarding eligibility in 2021.
Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) is a systematic process that involves the identification, documentation and evaluation of learning based on prior experience.
What is APEL A?
APEL.A provides an opportunity for those who have work experience but lack qualifications or no academic qualifications to continue their studies at Institutions of Higher Education.
In general, APEL.A assessment involves the assessment of knowledge acquired by a person through formal education or through previous experience.
What is Apel C?
APEL.C is a mechanism to recognise learning based on students’ previous experiences that have been identified as relevant and have achieved course learning outcomes (HPK) for a course.
In other words, APEL C enables learning based on previous experience in the form of knowledge and skills acquired through formal learning and/or non-formal learning and/or informal learning, given credit and transferred to replace equivalent courses.
For validation and recognition purposes, learning based on students’ prior experiences will be reviewed and evaluated by a panel of trained assessors.
What is APEL Q?
Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) is a systematic process that involves the identification, documentation and evaluation of learning based on prior experience.
Candidates are eligible to be awarded academic qualifications based on knowledge assessment methods obtained from formal education, work experience, life experience, or/and a collection of short courses.
Career Tips
If your dream was to get a degree from a university, you can now fulfil your dreams. You can get a degree without practically going to a university.
However, there are some terms and conditions set up by MQA.
In our next article, we will look into the various steps more closely. Meanwhile, if you have a question, write to: [email protected]
