Politeknik Sultan Azlan Shah (PSAS), a polytechnic located in Behrang Stesen, Perak, Malaysia, underwent another cycle of its quality journey with the Asia Pacific Accreditation and Certification Commission (APACC) through the onsite visit reaccreditation activity held on September 18 - 20, 2019.
PSAS started their quality journey with APACC in 2015 and was granted a Gold - Level status by APACC .
The institution’s vision is to “become a premier, industry-led TVET institution by 2020”and its mission is to “produce holistic entrepreneurial and balanced graduates via globally-recognized, industry-led curriculum through and innovative, dynamic quality teaching and learning ecosystem”. Presently, it offers 14 diploma programs and 1 degree program and hosts 3,620 students and 412 staff members.
The APACC team, composed of Dr. Suresh Kumar Dhameja from India as the Lead accreditor, Atty. Marycel Engracia from the Philippines as the Member Accreditor, and Ms. Casey Alvarez of CPSC as the Documentation Officer, conducted campus tour, interviews, and discussions to verify the evidences presented for each criterion during the three-day onsite visit activity.
The opening ceremony was graced by high – level officials of PSAS and the Department of Polytechnic and Community College Education (DPCCE) namely Ts. Dr. Naimah binti Md. Khalil, the Director of PSAS; Dr. Rashidi Ruzdi bin Mohammad, Senior Director for Competency, DPCCE Malaysia, and Pn. Noor Aidi binti Nadzri, Director of Curriculum Division, DPCCE and National Coordinator for Accreditation in Malaysia.
In his speech, Dr. Rashidi congratulated the PSAS for undergoing the reaccreditation process and hoped that the improvements initiated in the institution through their APACC reaccreditation would continue for many years. He mentioned the importance of accreditation in polytechnics, which included the improvement of their visibility to the stakeholders and the enhancement of their ability to develop the capability of their graduates once they enter the job market. He also cited the benefits of internationalization in Malaysian polytechnics and its contribution to their country’s economic development.
Dr. Naimah, the Director of PSAS, welcomed the APACC team and presented the progress of PSAS since the last accreditation cycle.
In response, Atty. Engracia and Dr. Dhameja encouraged the institution to find the common goal in the quality improvement. They affirmed APACC’s commitment to help the institution achieve greater heights, expressed their appreciation to the hospitality extended by the institution to welcome the delegation, and delivered orientation briefing of the planned activities during the visit.
At the end of the 3-day onsite visit, Dr. Dhameja presented to the PSAS management team the APACC team’s qualitative report such as commendations, affirmations, and recommendations derived from the interview sessions.
Onsite Visit Exercise
The accreditation team listening to the presentation of students about their outreach and volunteering activities in the community.
Dr. SK Dhameja inspecting some publications about the activities and alumni involvement at the polytechnic
The APACC and PSAS team after interview session with one of the working group committee for one of the APACC criterion
