iCGBA

 Ministry of Education Malaysia

Integrated Cumulative Grade Point Average @ iCGPA

9 August 2015 at 19:38 Integrated Cumulative Grade Point Average @ iCGPA

INTRODUCTION

1. Recently I had announced that beginning September 2015, five public universities will be piloting a new approach in assessing their students. This approach will be known as Integrated Cumulative Grade Point Average @ iCGPA.

2. The five public universities are UKM, UiTM, UMT, UMK and UMP. The iCGPA will be piloted in a select number of faculties of each university.

3. iCGPA is one of the initiatives under Shift 1 of the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2015-2025 (Higher Education) aka the Higher Education Blueprint which was launched in April 2015.

4. It must be noted that iCGPA as a concept has been explored since 2009 with the methodology development taking place since 2011 via collaboration between experts from public universities including UKM and UiTM. Throughout this period, the Malaysians Qualifications Agency (MQA) has provided its advice on standards, with the Ministry of Higher Education facilitating the overall process. The efforts have been time consuming in view of the data, research and efforts required to make this initiative a success.

Why iCGPA?

5. When asked why iCGPA, what comes to my mind is that one of the key challenges of any higher education system, including Malaysia’s, is to produce graduates who

a)      not only excel in their fields of study (academically),

b)      but are also equipped with the necessary soft skills (such as English proficiency),

c)      knowledge (of the world at large, the sciences and arts),

d)     values (ethics, patriotism, and spirituality),

e)      leadership abilities (including the love of volunteerism), and

f)       the ability to think critically (accepting diverse views, innovation and problem solving).

6. The immediate goal is to

• solve the graduate-employer expectation mismatch and
• enable our graduates to find meaningful employment.

We also want our graduates to

Ø become entrepreneurs and

Ø create job opportunities for others.

7. The long-term goal is about

• achieving self-realisation,
•  societal prosperity,
• national development and
• international recognition.

What is iCGPA about?

8. iCGPA will see a new method of assessing students.

9. iCGPA will not only assess

Ø knowledge and thinking skills (as is the current practice),

Ø but also competencies based on the other primary attributes that comprise Malaysia’s student aspirations, namely:

•  ethics and spirituality,
•  leadership skills,
• national identity and  language proficiency; and
• the creating of opportunities for students to acquire entrepreneurial skills.

10. The iCGPA will be used to track, develop and fill the gaps that may exist within students.

11. The iCGPA assessment will be reported in the students score cards using a ‘Spider Web’ methadology which enumerates all the achieved, expected or desired performance of the student. Further details will be revealed in due course.

The role of participating universities

12. In so far as participating universities are concerned, they must ensure that their offerings embed High Impact Educational Practices (HIEP). The curriculum must be both student-centered and outcome-based.

13. In essence, the curriculum, learning experiences and interventions must target:
a. The advanced mastery of the discipline;
b. The development of personal, interpersonal and social skills; and
c. The habits and virtues of the mind and heart.

14. I have been made to understand that the curriculum review process has been ongoing and this will play a key role in iCGPA’s success

Conclusion

15. The imperative for us to produce holistic, entrepreneurial and balanced graduates is evident. May we be successful in our efforts and I welcome the support of all our stakeholders.

"Soaring Upwards"!

Dato Seri Idris Jusoh
Higher Education Minister
10 August 2015