GENTING HIGHLANDS, July 30 – Designing an internationally recognised professional diploma begins with understanding industry, not writing a syllabus. Participants of the Certified Professional in Education Design (CPED) programme were introduced to an eight-step framework for developing competency-based professional qualifications during a curriculum design session delivered by Dr. Mithaq Abd. Mutalib of UTMSpace under the Akademi Dalam Industri (ADI) initiative.
The session provided participants with a practical roadmap for developing professional diploma programmes that meet international quality standards while addressing the evolving needs of industry. Rather than focusing solely on academic content, the framework emphasises competency, workplace relevance and measurable learning outcomes.
Dr. Mithaq explained that every professional diploma should begin with a clear understanding of the target learners and their workplace environment before identifying six core competencies that graduates are expected to demonstrate. These competencies then form the foundation for developing the programme aims, learning outcomes and curriculum structure.
Participants were subsequently guided through the process of designing six competency-based modules, each supported by its own continuous assessment, before integrating them into a coherent learning journey culminating in a workplace-based capstone project. The final project serves as evidence that participants can apply the knowledge and skills acquired throughout the programme to real industry challenges.
The workshop also introduced the programme outline required for a London Examinations Board (LEB) Professional Diploma, comprising six modules, six continuous assessments and one final project. Participants were shown how every component should be aligned to ensure consistency between competencies, learning outcomes, assessment methods and workplace expectations.
The curriculum design workshop forms part of the Akademi Dalam Industri (ADI) initiative, which aims to strengthen industry-driven education through competency-based professional qualifications. The professional diploma modules are designed by Certified Professional in Education Design (CPED) practitioners and structured in collaboration with the Malaysian Press Institute (MPI) to ensure they remain relevant to current industry practices while meeting internationally recognised professional standards.
Dr. Mithaq said effective professional qualifications are not measured by the number of subjects offered, but by their ability to develop competent professionals who can contribute immediately in the workplace. He added that competency-based curriculum design ensures learning remains industry-focused, outcome-driven and responsive to the changing demands of the global workforce.
The programme was attended by representatives from the Malaysian Press Institute (MPI), led by Chief Executive Officer Dr. Ainol Amriz Ismail, together with Ts. Dr. Zulimran Ahmad and Dr. Zulbaile, who serve as Academic Advisors for MPI’s professional programmes, as well as Ibrahim Darman, Head of Social Media.
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