The RPTM 2026-2035 blueprint aims to strengthen IPT governance with accountability and an outcome-based approach to produce future-ready graduates.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Higher Education Blueprint (RPTM) 2026-2035 will strengthen governance in higher education institutions through a more accountable and impact-focused approach.
Higher Education director-general Datuk Prof Dr Azlinda Azman said this ensures the blueprint’s implementation truly benefits students and stakeholders.
“University autonomy must come with accountability,” she said on the Bernama TV programme *Apa Khabar Malaysia*.
She stated the Department of Higher Education will monitor and engage stakeholders to ensure consistent RPTM implementation across all institutions.
The blueprint outlines 10 strategic leaps comprising 41 strategies and 128 initiatives, with initial emphasis on the first three years from 2026 to 2028.
An outcome-based approach is central to RPTM, focusing on graduate quality, employability and competitiveness.
Azlinda said periodic monitoring with measurable indicators will assess the policy’s effectiveness, including using technology and AI.
A key reform involves strengthening university collaboration to keep curricula aligned with current industry needs.
It also provides students early workforce exposure through industrial training and teaching factory concepts on campus.
“We already have teaching factories on campuses where industry has set up so-called mini-factories,” she explained.
To make education more inclusive, RPTM introduces a lifelong learning approach through modular learning and micro-credentials.
“Higher education is no longer limited to a single traditional pathway,” Azlinda added.
On internationalisation, the blueprint emphasises strengthening the global standing of local universities.
Azlinda said this recognises the quality of Malaysia’s education and research, attracting foreign students.
She said RPTM reflects the government’s commitment to making higher education a key driver of national progress.
