Shah alam: Former Human Resources Minister Dr V. Sivakumar and Sarawak State Assemblyman cum Tanjung Manis Port Authority Chairman Dr Safiee Ahmad today received their doctorates at Asia e University’s (AeU) 14th Convocation Ceremony held at the Ideal Convention Centre (IDCC).

According to BERNAMA News Agency, both leaders were among 23 graduates who completed their qualifications through the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning for Qualifications (APEL.Q) pathway. This national initiative is pioneered by AeU to formally recognise professional experience as academic credit.

Sivakumar, who graduated with a Doctor of Business Administration, expressed his gratitude to AeU for recognising his expertise and achievements in the field, thus allowing him to translate his knowledge into academic research. He highlighted the support provided by the university’s supervisors during his studies on the gig economy, which took four years to complete.

AeU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Noor Raihan Ab Hamid noted that since its launch in 2020, the APEL.Q pathway has produced 42 graduates, including those with Doctorates in Business Administration and Master’s degrees in fields such as Communication and Information Technology. She explained the APEL.Q process, which evaluates experiential evidence through portfolio assessments, field validations, and case studies, as an alternative to conventional academic pathways.

AeU’s convocation celebrated the achievements of 1,529 graduates, including 1,230 academic graduates and 299 from the School of Professional and Executive Education Development (SPEED). The event also honored Datuk Prof Dr Sayed Mushtaq Hussain with the title of Emeritus Professor, acknowledging his contributions to academia, public policy, and human development.