APEL.Q Pathway for Civil Servants: HELP University and INTAN Collaboration to Enhance Lifelong Learning Opportunities
HELP University has formed a strategic partnership with the National Institute of Public Administration (INTAN) to improve educational access for civil servants through the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning for the Award of Academic Qualifications (APEL.Q) program. This initiative aligns with the national agenda introduced by Prime Minister YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the 2025 Budget, which promotes the Tuition Assistance Initiative to aid civil servants in pursuing further education via the APEL.Q framework.
Government Subsidy for Tuition Fees
The government will subsidize 50% of tuition fees or up to RM15,000 for civil servants who have served for more than 15 years. This initiative acknowledges the value of experiential learning and aims to increase the accessibility of flexible education options within the public sector.
APEL.Q Initiative and Programs
In 2020, HELP University was recognized by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) as one of four institutions to pilot the APEL.Q initiative, successfully launching eight MQA-approved academic programs ranging from diploma to doctoral levels, with further programs planned to meet the increasing demand.
Enrollment and Impact
To date, over 200 learners have enrolled in the APEL.Q programs at HELP, including C-suite executives and senior government officials, many of whom possess significant leadership experience from both public and private sectors. These individuals are leveraging the APEL.Q pathway to obtain formal academic recognition for their professional achievements.
Signing of Memorandum of Understanding
The formal partnership was established through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Professor Dr. Liew Teik Kooi, Vice Chancellor of HELP University, and Datuk Dr. Mohd Zabri bin Yusoff, Director of INTAN, with various stakeholders present during the ceremony.
Importance of Partnership
Professor Dr. Liew noted the importance of this partnership, explaining that many civil servants may have previously overlooked opportunities for higher education due to personal and professional responsibilities. The APEL.Q pathway provides a flexible and respectful avenue for these professionals to gain formal academic acknowledgment for their prior learning and experience, fostering a more inclusive and equitable higher education environment.
Future Plans for Collaboration
The collaboration between HELP University and INTAN will also aim to enhance educational aspects such as specialized training and professional development courses, collaborative research initiatives, scholarly publications, and knowledge-sharing within the higher education sector.
APEL.Q’s Inception and Goals
Since its inception in July 2021, APEL.Q has facilitated access to formal qualifications for experienced professionals without necessitating a review of previously acquired knowledge, thereby supporting the government’s human capital development initiatives through flexible lifelong learning opportunities.
Additional Information
Additional information is available through the APEL.Q Portal on the INTAN website, and more details regarding HELP University’s APEL.Q programs can be found on their official site.
(Source: Original article)
