Community college (Malaysia)

Logo of the Community College Management Sector, MOHE

The community college (Malay: Kolej Komuniti) system in Malaysia provides a wide range of vocational and technical post-secondary education courses within the Malaysian Qualifications Framework (MQF). Disciplines covered include accounting, architecture, construction, engineering, draughting, entrepreneurship, hospitality, personal services, multimedia production, and the visual arts.^[1][2]

Community colleges in Malaysia are administered by the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) via the Jabatan Pengajian Kolej Komuniti (English: Community Colleges Educational Departmen) of the Ministry's Community College Management Department.

Background

Formal vocational and technical training developed in Malaysia with the opening of the Treacher Technical School in Kuala Lumpur in 1906. A system of vocational schools and polytechnics were developed over the years. With the passage of the Education Act 1996, vocational secondary schools were phased out and supplanted by technical secondary schools. Nonetheless a deficit still existed whereby school leavers without sufficient academic achievements were being left out of the mainstream of the education system.

In 2000, the Government approved a proposal by the Ministry of Education (MOE) to establish a network of educational institutions whereby vocational and technical skills training could be provided at all levels for school leavers before they entered the workforce. The community colleges also provide an infrastructure for rural communities to gain skills training through short courses as well as providing access to a post-secondary education. This institutions became known as community colleges. An initial 10 community colleges were established in June 2001 and an additional two were opened before the end of the year.

With the establishment of the MOHE in 2004, the administration of the community colleges were transferred to a specialised department within the new ministry. The adoption of the MQF in 2007 rationalised the various qualifications provided by the education sector in the country and brought the community colleges into the mainstream of the education system.^[3]

Qualifications provided

At the moment, most community colleges award qualifications up to Level 3 in the MQF (Certificate 3) in both the Skills sector (Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia or the Malaysian Skills Certificate) as well as the Vocational and Training sector but the number of community colleges that are starting to award Level 4 qualifications (Diploma) are increasing. This is two levels below a Bachelor's degree (Level 6 in the MQF) and students within the system who intend to further their studies to that level will usually seek entry into Advanced Diploma programs in public universities, polytechnics or accredited private providers.

Community colleges by state

The original plan of the MOE called for the establishment of community colleges in every parliamentary constituency in Malaysia. Currently, community colleges have been established in the following locations^[4]:

Johor

• Kolej Komuniti Bandar Penawar, Bandar Penawar

• Branch campus in Bandar Tenggara

• Kolej Komuniti Ledang, Tangkak
• Kolej Komuniti Pasir Gudang, Pasir Gudang

• Branch campus in Tanjung Piai, Pontian

• Kolej Komuniti Segamat, Segamat
• Kolej Komuniti Segamat 2, Batu Aman

Kedah

• Kolej Komuniti Bandar Darulaman, Jitra
• Kolej Komuniti Kulim, Kulim
• Kolej Komuniti Sungai Petani, Sungai Petani
• Kolej Komuniti Langkawi, Langkawi

Melaka

• Kolej Komuniti Masjid Tanah, Masjid Tanah,website, http://www.kkmt.edu.my
• Kolej Komuniti Bukit Beruang, Bukit Beruang
• Kolej Komuniti Jasin, Jasin
• Kolej Komuniti Selandar, Selandar

Negeri Sembilan

• Kolej Komuniti Jelebu, Kuala Klawang
• Kolej Komuniti Jempol, Bahau

Pahang

• Kolej Komuniti Bentong, Karak
• Kolej Komuniti Kuantan, Kuantan
• Kolej Komuniti Mentakab, Temerloh
• Kolej Komuniti Paya Besar, Gambang
• Kolej Komuniti Rompin, Kuala Rompin
• Kolej Komuniti Cawangan Raub, Raub

Penang

• Kolej Komuniti Bayan Baru, Air Itam
• Kolej Komuniti Kepala Batas, Kepala Batas
• Kolej Komuniti Cawangan Bukit Mertajam, Tanah Liat
• Kolej Komuniti Cawangan Nibong Tebal, Simpang Ampat
• Kolej Komuniti Cawangan Tasek Gelugor, Teluk Air Tawar

Perak

• Kolej Komuniti Chenderoh, Kuala Kangsar
• Kolej Komuniti Grik, Gerik
• Kolej Komuniti Pasir Salak, Kampung Gajah
• Kolej Komuniti Sungai Siput, Sungai Siput
• Kolej Komuniti Teluk Intan, Seri Manjung

Perlis

• Kolej Komuniti Arau, Arau

Sabah

• Kolej Komuniti Tawau, Tawau
• Kolej Komuniti Cawangan Semporna, Semporna

Sarawak

• Kolej Komuniti Kuching, Kuching

Selangor

• Kolej Komuniti Hulu Langat, Kajang
• Kolej Komuniti Hulu Selangor, Rawang
• Kolej Komuniti Kuala Langat, Kuala Langat
• Kolej Komuniti Sabak Bernam, Sabak Bernam
• Kolej Komuniti Selayang, Batu Caves

Terengganu

• Kolej Komuniti Kuala Terengganu, Kuala Terengganu

See also

• Education in Malaysia
• Malaysian Qualifications Framework
• Vocational education

References

1. ^ Malaysian Qualifications Register: List of Qualification - Community Colleges
2. ^ Department of Skills Development: National Occupational Skills Standards Registry
3. ^ Sektor Pengurusan Kolej Komuniti: Maklumat Umum - Sejarah (in Malay)
4. ^ Ministry of Higher Education: List of Community Colleges

External links

• Community Colleges Management Sector
• Department of Skills Development, Ministry of Human Resources