SINCE its establishment, SEGi University & Colleges has achieved 45 years of excellence in providing affordable quality education within reach of willing minds and natural talents, be it school leavers or working adults.
SEGi has produced over 485,000 graduates across all campuses in various fields of study.
SEGi achieved another “first” in the academic arena when it became the country’s first university to be awarded the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning for Award of Academic Qualifications (APEL.Q) for its Diploma In Early Childhood Education programme (DECE).
The APEL.Q certificate was presented by Malaysia’s Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad to SEGi University & Colleges Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Student Affairs and Dean, Faculty of Optometry & Vision Sciences Professor Dr Azrin Esmady Ariffin at the APEL Open Day and launching ceremony of APEL.Q held on July 6, 2022 at Kuala Lumpur Sentral.
“SEGi is delighted to have been approved by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) to offer our DECE programme through APEL.Q,” said SEGi University & Colleges Managing Director Stella Lau said.
SEGi has been a pioneer and trusted provider of early childhood programmes, producing thousands of highly qualified early childhood practitioners since 1999.
The institution was further appointed the champion for Early Childhood teacher training by PEMANDU in 2010 for the National Key Economic Area (NKEA) Entry Point Project (EPP) 2.
“With this recognition by MQA, we can continue providing flexible education for working adults and play the leading role in offering ECCE practitioners greater access to a professional qualification,” Lau elaborated.
The Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) is a systematic process introduced by MQA that provides an alternative route for individuals who have work experience but lack the formal academic qualifications to pursue their studies at higher education institutions.
APEL for Access (APEL.A) was first introduced in 2011 to provide entry-level access to higher education for working adults.
APEL for Credit Award (APEL.C) was launched in 2016, which offers an avenue to assess relevant experiential learning of an individual in the form of credit.
APEL.C aims to avoid duplication of knowledge and save time and cost for individuals to complete a study programme.
Meanwhile, APEL.Q promotes lifelong learning through facilitation of the recognition of prior experiential learning that takes place in the workplace, and other forms of knowledge, such as formal, non-formal, informal, continuing professional development education and training.
Lau expressed that an individual with a minimum of 10 years of work experience in the field of early childhood education is qualified to apply for its DECE programme via APEL.Q. Upon completion, the individual will be able to further pursue a degree.
The APEL.Q for the Diploma In Early Childhood Education programme is available at SEGi University.
In-service teachers who are ineligible for APEL.Q have the option to study DECE online flexibly at the university.
Additionally, SEGi offers the two-and-a-half-year DECE programme across five college campuses in Kota Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Subang Jaya, Sarawak and Penang.
“Early Childhood practitioners in Malaysia need more than just fulfilling the mandatory diploma qualification required by the government to make a difference,” Lau noted.
“Early childhood education shapes a child’s brain and learning capacity. It is the foundation for a child’s lifelong learning, behaviour and health.
“SEGi aims to shape students into excellent professionals with outstanding achievements in line with its brand promise ‘The Best In You, Made Possible’.”
For more information about all the programmes available at SEGi, visit www.segi.edu.my. – July 29, 2022
