SINTOK, 24 February 2025: The status of self-accreditation is a distinguished recognition that signifies the superiority and excellence of the university on both national and international levels.
This also serves as an acknowledgement of a university that has demonstrated an excellent reputation, commands respect and serves as an exemplar to other universities regarding the quality of higher education.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dato’ Dr Mohd Foad Sakdan said that maintaining the status of self-accreditation Status is essential for upholding the reputation of Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) as a Higher Education Institution distinguished by its excellent academic quality system in the field of management, thus enabling it to compete on the global stage.
He said that the UUM management has taken the initiative to develop a comprehensive action plan as a preparatory measure for the Self-accreditation Status Maintenance Audit, which also includes is a mock audit to evaluate UUM’s readiness for the audit visit scheduled today.
He said that in October 2023, UUM received the Self-Accreditation Status Compliance Audit Report, which included eight recommendations and four suggestions for improvement (SFI) which must be taken seriously by all parties at UUM.
“In light of the findings from the Compliance Audit, UUM has been granted consideration for self-Accreditation status for one year starting from 31 January 2024 until 30 January 2025.
“The implication of this decision is that UUM is not permitted to accredit programmes, and the UUM Senate is unable to approve any matters related to programme accreditation during this consideration period, with the exception of certain programmes that have been granted special exemptions,” he said online during the Opening Meeting of the Universiti Utara Malaysia Self-Accreditation Status Compliance Consideration Audit which took place in the Senate Meeting Room this morning.
Prof. Dr Mohd Foad expressed hope that the audit session would proceed seamlessly, demonstrating UUM’s commitment to excellence in the process of maintaining its Self-Accreditation status.
The audit panel was composed of representatives from the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA), namely Prof. Dr Hazman Shah Abdullah and Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr Zulkefli Mansor.
Meanwhile, the Director of the UUM Self-Accreditation Centre, Assoc. Prof. Dr Zulkiflee Daud, delivered a presentation on the Centre for Higher Education (PPT). This presentation encompassed the UUM Programme Audit (2023-2025), which included the Full Accreditation Audit (2023 – Latest), the Full Accreditation (Deemed) Audit (2023 – Latest), the Full Accreditation Compliance Audit (2024 – Latest), the Full Accreditation Compliance Audit (2023 – Latest), the Accreditation Assessment Audit by MQA and the Premises Audit (2023 – Latest). Additionally, it addressed actions pertaining to the conditions and SFI of the Self-Accreditation Assessment.
Also present at the meeting were the Assistant Vice-Chancellor of UUM COB and Dean of TISSA, Prof. Dr Ram Al Jaffri Saad and the Registrar, Mr. Ahmad Rasidi Abdullah.
