Private universities, colleges to be audited - The Star

By Muguntan Vanar

KOTA KINABALU: A grading system for private universities and colleges will be in place soon once all of the establishments are audited, Deputy Higher Education Minister Dr Hou Kok Chung said.

He said the ministry since May this year had begun an "establishment audit" on 200 private institutions of higher education including 37 private universities in the country in efforts to ensure that their courses are of quality and followed various regulations.

Dr Hou said the establishment audit would see 120 of such institutions undergoing a full scope audit where officers would go on the ground to check various facilities while the remaining 80 institutions would have to submit their details to the ministry.

"We will be looking at their staff, their courses, student intake, examination process, management and financial capability among others," he told reporters Monday after a meeting with senior executives of private colleges and universities here.

Private audit firm Ernst & Young has been appointed to work with the ministry for the establishment audit programme.

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