TARC is Not a IPTA. It's an IPTS. It's not funded by the government. It's privately owned by MCA, a political component party.

Only IPTS programmes that are accredited by LAN are recognised by JPA. Currently, level of accreditation is only at about 30% of approved courses being run at existing active IPTSs.

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Added on January 30, 2007, 7:15 pmFees charged is NEVER an indication of whether a higher learning institution is IPTA or IPTS. Fees can be low if they are sponsored or funded.

IPTA fees are low because they are funded by the government. TARC fees are low because MCA (NOT the government, but a political component party) doesn't want to make a lot of money but want to introduce affordable programmes for the chinese.

For a list of IPTAs, just visit the ministry of higher education website: http://www.mohe.gov.my/info_kpt_senarai.ph...&subcode=SUB001
There are 19 IPTAs (excluding community colleges).

TARC and UTAR are listed among 553 IPTS in the country. Check this out: http://www.phed.gov.my/Services/Search_Ins...&subcode=SUB002

Am surprised at the low level of research abilities of TAR graduates and awareness of what constitute and IPTA/ IPTS. *sigh*




This post has been edited by Teong: Jan 30 2007, 07:15 PM

TARC is an IPTS. To be recognised by JPA, the diplomas (at TARC) and degrees (at UTAR) must be accredited by LAN.

Surprise...surprise!! not many programmes at TARC or UTAR is accredited. They only have approval of minimum standard. This means that they are not recognised by JPA.

Only 199 of 533 IPTS have courses that are accredited by LAN. AND TARC is NOT one of them (however, UTAR is).

Check out this link for list of courses at accredited by LAN: http://www.lan.gov.my/english/index2eng.htm

Another surprise is that UTAR only has 11 courses accredited (including 1 at their Setapak campus) out of the over 50 degree programmes on offer. That's less than 20% accredited and hence recognised by JPA.

Just check out www.utar.edu.my and roam under academic> faculty.
Look for the LAN codes. A = accredited; KA = not accredited but had been submitted for approval; KN = submitted just for approval. The last few digits are the date when the course approval expires 5/07 means expiry in may 2007.

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Added on January 30, 2007, 7:36 pmJust check out the LAN website www.lan.gov.my and Ministry website www.mohe.gov.my.

It's 100% confirmed that TARC and UTAR are NOT IPTAs. They need accreditation and approval from LAN and the Ministry. That's why when you check the UTAR website or TAR website, they include the JPS and LAN codes.

I've copied and attached a sample here from utar website:

Courses Offered
Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Graphic Design and Multimedia
KP/JPS(KA7217) 7/11

Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Chinese Studies
KP/JPS(KN3339) 5/07

Bachelor of Arts (Hons) English Language
KP/JPS(KA5857) 2/10

Let me teach you how to read these codes:
KP = Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi
JPS = Jabatan Pendidikan Swasta (which means UTAR is IPTS = "swasta")
KA number = submitted for accreditation but NOT YET received accreditation
2/10 = approval expires in february 2010.

Sorry to tell you, my friend. What you heard is wrong.

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Added on January 30, 2007, 7:38 pmAnother indication of whether an institution is an IPTS or IPTA is the mode of application.

For entry into IPTA: you need to fill-in the "UPU form" and get it processed by BPKP.

For IPTS, you just call and the marketing people will enroll you.

This post has been edited by Teong: Jan 30 2007, 07:38 PM

Can't get accreditation because they are not up to the mark...or didn't submit for accreditation....or does not have the students to submit for accreditation......or didn't comply with LAN requirements when they feedback. Many things can happen.

The process of accreditation is pretty tough. LAN will only recommend to MOHE to provide minimum standard to run the programme once it's approved. Accreditation can only be obtained once the IPTS recruits students and they eventually graduate (go through one full cycle). LAN will come in for audit..speak to students, check on facilities, conduct interviews, check on attendance and the systems, etc.

Many hiccups can get in the way for a below-par institution.

Check out this link about UTAR and TARC being below par by Tony Pua:
http://educationmalaysia.blogspot.com/2006...t-too-soon.html

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Added on January 31, 2007, 2:38 pmAny higher learning institute can offer STPM. STPM is only a certificate level qualification, and you don't need an IPTS license to offer. Just an IPS (institut pengajian swasta) license will do.

There are tonnes of tuition centres, and private schools offering STPM la. C'mon KDU started off giving tuition for STPM, and so did Goon Institut, before they progressed to College status.

Offering STPM does not make you an IPTA!!! Being owned and funded by the government does. To get into IPTA, you need to apply through the Ministry through UPU (BPKP).


This post has been edited by Teong: Jan 31 2007, 02:38 PM

[quote=ahtiven,Jan 31 2007, 04:26 PM]
bro, UTAR offers new courses and every year and each new course alone requires a few years to be accredited by LAN.

as what you've mentioned, 11/50 courses accredited today, 50/80 courses accredited maybe 10 years later.

got my point?
you are utterly wrong there, my friend.
LAN officers will be visiting my campus in the next 2 weeks. so yeah, if everything goes smooth, more courses will be accredited this year.

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MY REPLY: You missed my point altogether. I wasn't referring to the process of getting accreditation.

I was getting at the fact that only 11 courses are accredited, which means that PTPTN loans are not available to students who are interested to sign-up for the other programmes immediately or within the next few months, at least.

Good luck for the LAN visit. But then again, accreditation is awarded based on individual campuses. Which means, if the Setapak or PJ or KL campus obtains accreditation now, it doesn't follow that the upcoming main campus will be accredited too. A shortcut would be for the management of UTAR to physically transfer the license of the branch campus to the main campus.
If not, the main campus will have to apply fresh and wait for another few rounds to obtain accreditation.

That's the current system with MOHE, unless Prof. Mahani gets her way and rush those rules through the proper channels (parliament, cabinet, etc.).