Quality and affordable international education is available at the many private colleges and universities in the country.

These major and well-established institutions of higher learning are members of the Malaysian Association of Private Colleges and Universities (MAPCU).

Established on March 18, 1997 , MAPCU stands out as Malaysia 's leading grouping of private colleges and universities whose members offer post secondary and tertiary level courses independently and in collaboration with local and foreign institutions.

All programmes offered by MAPCU members are subject to Lembaga Akreditasi Negara's quality assurance assessment.

LAN assessors look into areas like programme structure (number fo credit hours, assessment modes, quality assurance processes, graduation requirements etc.), lecturers (qualifications, lecturer:student ratio), facilities (library, computer labs, classrooms/lecture halls etc. )

The degrees awarded by the foreign university partners of MAPCU members are also recognized by the Public Service Department (PSD). All course offered by MAPCU members are approved by the Education Ministry's Department of Private Education (JPS).

The quality of education offered by MAPCU members is also determined by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA), UK , which has audited selected partnership links between UK universities and private colleges in Malaysia .

The purpose of the audits is to provide information on the way in which UK institutions maintain quality and high standards in the study programmes offered in partnerships with Malaysian institutions.

The partner universities of MAPCU members also have their own stringent Quality Assurance processes to ensure MAPCU members with twinning/franchise arrangements readily meet the QA standards set by their respective partners.

In addition, MAPCU members also have their own internal academic quality assurance processes and also ISO 9001:2000 certification built into their systems.

They also conduct regular internal and external quality reviews of their programmes.

MAPCU members serve as a vital conduit for the transfer of knowledge and technology from some of the finest universities in the world.

Subscribing to the stringent standards of their foreign partners in terms of curricula, teaching methods and academic performance, these private colleges play a crucial role in enhancing the country's intellectual and professional horizons.

With more members applying for university college status, plans to establish research and professional development facilities are being mooted to further enhance their credibility and add greater credence to Malaysia 's standing in academia.

MAPCU is recognized by the Ministry of Education, the National Accreditation Board, the Multimedia Development Corporation, the Ministry of Finance, the Economic Planning Unit of the Prime Minister's Department, the Ministry of Human Resources and the National Economic Action Council.

It is also a member of the MSC Education Advisory Panel, Lembaga Penganugerahan Sijil/Diploma Politeknik (Board for Polytechnic Certificate/Diploma Award) and Lembaga Kurikulum Kursus Pengajian Dan Program Latihan Politeknik (Polytechnic Board of Curriculum and Training Programmes).

MAPCU operates in “smart partnership” with the Government and its agencies, to harness the potential of the private higher education industry as its goals include:

• Promoting the growth and development of the private higher education industry while contributing towards the social and economic development of the country;
• Seeking solutions for problems and issues faced by members through discussions and meetings with ministries and government departments and agencies;
• Promoting measures to improve quality and professionalism in the private higher education industry;
• Seeking representation on relevant committees, councils and boards set up by the government and non-governmental agencies;
• Playing a major role in helping the Government to establish Malaysia as a regional centre of educational excellence.

Among its efforts to provide quality international education, MAPCU introduced its Code of Ethics with the blessings of the Education Ministry in 1998.

It also launched the Annual MAPCU Inter-College Games in 1998 to foster closer ties between members and their students.

MAPCU was also invited by the Economics Planning Unit of the Prime Minister's Department to be a panel member for a workshop to review a report on” Strategic Review of Technical Education and Skills Training in Malaysia” prepared by consultants appointed by the Asian Development Bank and the Economic Planning Unit of the Prime Minister's Department.

Under the New Straits Times-MAPCU Scholarship Fund for 2003, MAPCU offered scholarships worth RM2.3 million to Malaysian students to pursue higher education.

The association also co-organised with the Education Ministry's Department of Private Education to send a Malaysian delegation of private colleges/universities and public universities to participate in “The China International Education Exhibition in Beijing and Shanghai ” in 1999.

MAPCU also organized a seminar with the Department of Private Education on “Perkembangan Dasar dan Pengurusan Kualiti” in 1999 and co-organised a workshop in 1999 with the Immigration Department, on the implementation of new procedures for the issuance of foreign student visas.

It was invited to participate in a closed-door meeting in 1999 on “Halatuju Pendidikan Tnggi”, which was chaired by the Minister of Education.

It was also a panel member in a workshop on “Manpower Requirements in Info rmation Technology” here, to discuss the findings, issues and recommendations by the United Nations Development Programme and the Economic Planning Unit of the Prime Minster's Department.

The association also received an invitation from the Education Ministry's Curriculum Development Centre to propose guidelines for e-learning for the National IT Council (NITC).

It was also invited by the Human Resources Ministry to provide input on skills development for the Eighth Malaysia Plan and ISIS ' proposed “Strategic Plan for a Quantum Leap into the k-economy”. MAPCU provided input for the Department for Higher Education's proposed blue print for public higher education for the next 10 years (2001 to 2010).

It is invited annually to present views and proposals in respect for private higher education during the annual Pre-Budget Dialogue chaired by the Finance Minister.

MAPCU also provides recommendations for the review of the Education Act 1996 pertaining to private higher education. It signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation in July for the development and implementation of activities to prevent and control crime.

It organized the MAPCU National Higher Education Conference 2003 in May and organized two “Hari Informasi” this year for school counselors in the Federal Territory and Selangor to provide information and courses available in private colleges and universities.