Singapore: The Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) has made history by becoming the first higher education quality assurance agency to receive the Governance Project of the Year - Higher Education (Asia-Pacific) award at the GovMedia Conference and Awards 2026. MQA chief executive officer Prof Datuk Dr Mohammad Shatar Sabran expressed that the recognition is a testament to the agency's initiatives in strengthening governance, fostering innovation, and enhancing the country's higher education quality assurance system through the MQA Awards 2025.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the achievement underscores that MQA's strategic approach has not only fortified organizational governance but also garnered international recognition. Prof Datuk Dr Mohammad Shatar Sabran stated that the award is not only a success for MQA but also an acknowledgment of Malaysia's capability in developing a credible higher education quality assurance system benchmarked against global best practices. The award supports the internationalization agenda for Malaysian higher education, championed by Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.

The award presentation ceremony took place at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Singapore. Mohammad Shatar emphasized that the award reflects MQA's commitment to maintaining a relevant and credible higher education quality assurance system aligned with global standards. It also highlights the role of the MQA Awards in fostering innovation and driving continuous improvement across Malaysia's higher education ecosystem.

Mohammad Shatar added that the recognition would further motivate MQA to enhance the nation's higher education quality assurance system. He noted that MQA will continue to expand strategic partnerships at both regional and international levels to keep Malaysia's quality assurance ecosystem competitive and responsive to change.

The GovMedia Conference and Awards is a significant Asia-Pacific platform that gathers public sector leaders to share best practices and honor impactful projects in various sectors. The ceremony recognized 26 recipients from countries including Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Australia, and others across multiple categories.

Other Malaysian organizations recognized at the event include Istana Budaya, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, and the Road Transport Department. Winners were selected by an international judging panel comprising experts from KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).