MOHE to shorten 44-degree programmes at IPTA to three years

 

The Higher Education Ministry has identified 44-course programmes at nine public institutions of higher learning (IPTA), which will be completed in three years.

Its minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said with the course duration shortened to three years, the amount of loan or tuition fees that students bear could be reduced.

"At the same time, this will give the graduates the opportunity to enter the job market a year earlier," he said in his speech at the closing of the ‘Jom Masuk U’ event at Universiti Malaya today.

He said the move was a continuous effort by the ministry to update and streamline programmes and courses offered by IPT nationwide for the benefit of all stakeholders.

At a press conference, Khaled said the shortened study period would only involve IPTA programmes and courses which commence this year.

On the ministry's new initiative to attract students’ interest and allow better access to higher education, he said 19 public universities are offering flexible learning for 95-degree courses, starting with the new 2023/2024 academic session.

He said this aligns with the ministry’s proposal to introduce a hybrid and flexible learning system for students who attend lectures at the university only in the first and final year.

On the First Student Development Programme (SULUNG) initiative introduced last year, Khaled said 10,000 B40 students would be fully exempted from tuition fees at all 20 public universities.

"This initiative will have a financial implication of about RM30 million involving all public universities," he said.

- Bernama