Accreditation and quality assurance requirements often create a fragmented documentation process and a heavy workload for academic staff, particularly in engineering programs that adopt Outcomes-Based Education (OBE). This paper proposes a holistic academic management system designed to streamline accreditation compliance and enhance institutional quality assurance. The study reviews existing accreditation frameworks and integrates three main domains program establishment, systematic evaluation, and continuous quality improvement (CQI) into a structured model of academic management. By aligning Program Educational Objectives (PEO) and Program Outcomes (PO) with stakeholder expectations, the model ensures that graduates are equipped with relevant competencies and remain competitive in the industry. The proposed system not only reduces redundancies in accreditation reporting but also optimizes lecturers’ workload and promotes sustainable quality improvement. This contribution highlights the importance of a structured management and documentation process in supporting accreditation bodies while strengthening higher education institutions’ reputation and graduate employability.
Abdullah, S., Yaacob, M., Abdullah, S.R.S., Rahman, M.S.A., Aziz, M.J.A., Hamzah N., Osman, K., Sidek, R.M., Zaharim, A., Rahmat. R.A.A.OK. (2016). A Holistic Engineering Education Model for Producing Engineers with Integrated Islamic Attributes. FEIIC International Journal of Engineering and Technology. Vol. 13. Pp. 98-104.
Ab-Rahman, M.S., Mustaffa, M.A.M., Abdul, N.A., Yusoff, A.R.M., & Hipni, A. (2016), Teaching Folder Management System for the Enhancement of Engineering and Built Environment Faculty Program. International Education Studies; Vol. 8, No. 7. Pp. 204-217.
Adamu, A. Y., & Addamu, A. M. (2012). Quality assurance in Ethiopian higher education: Procedures and practices. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 69, 838-846.
Adewale, O., Rahman, S., & Singh, P. (2023). Literature Review of Accreditation Systems in Higher Education. Education Sciences, 13(6), 582.
Aung, Z. M., & Latt, T. (2024). Quality engineering education through accreditation. Engineering Education Review. Vol. 2, No. 1. Pp. 7-13.
Chodhury, H., Alam, F., Biswas, S.K., Islam, M.T. & Sadrul Islam, A.K.M. (2013). Quality assurance and accreditation of engineering education in Bangladesh. Procedia – Engineering, 56, 864-869.
Duarte, N., & Vardasca, R. (2023). Literature Review of Accreditation Systems in Higher Education. Education Sciences, 13(6), 582
Engineering Program Accreditation Manual, Engineering Accreditation Council. Retrieved September 17, 2013, from www.eac.org.my/web/document/EACManual2012.pdf, 2012.
Gray, P. J., Patil, A., & Codner, G. (2009). The background of quality assurance in higher education and engineering education. Engineering Education Quality Assurance: A Global Perspective.
Grossman, G. M., Sands, M. K., & Brittingham, B. (2010). Teacher education accreditation in Turkey: The creation of a culture of quality. International Journal of Education Development, 30, 102-109.
Hassan, M., & Tan, W. (2025). Global Trends of Outcome-Based Education in Higher Education: A Sustainable Development Perspective. Discover Education, 5(3), 211–227.
Hidalgo, E., Villoria, J. & Romero-Cerezo, C. (2011). The necessity and challenge of setting up a quality assurance system in the higher education system in Andalusia (Spain). Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 15, 2972-2976.
Hou, A.Y-C. (2012). Mutual recognition of quality assurance decisions on higher education institutions in three regions: a lesson for Asia. Higher Education, 64, 911-926.
Jianfeng, B., Hu, L., Li, Y., Tian, Z., Xie, L., Wang, L., Zhou, M., Guan, J. & Xie, H. (2013). The progress of CDIO engineering education reform in several China universities: A review. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 93, 381-385.
Kahveci, T. C., Uygun, Ö., Yurtsever, U., & ?lyas, S. (2012). Quality assurance in higher education institutions using strategic information systems. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 55, 161-167.
Khan, Z. (2013). A strategy for incorporation of ISO 14001 in accreditation process of engineering degree programs. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 102, 543-547.
Kumar, R., Hassan, M., & Lee, J. (2025). A systematic review of outcome-based education in engineering: Global trends and challenges. Springer Higher Education Review, 44(2), 101–123.
Lee, S., Wong, K., & Ahmad, Z. (2022). Administrative challenges in accreditation documentation: A Malaysian case study. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Leadership, 8(4), 55–70.
Li, W. (2012). The status and developing strategy of China’s continuing engineering education. Procedia Engineering, 29, 3815-3819.
Lope Domingo, M. A., Albajez, J. A., & Santolaria, J. (2013). The accreditation of industrial engineering in Spain: Teaching and learning the skills of Manufacturing Engineering. Procedia Engineering, 63, 786-795.
Memon, J. A., Demirdö?en, E., & Chowdry, B. S. (2009). Achievements, outcomes and proposal for global accreditation of engineering education in developing countries. Procedia - Social & Behavorial Sciences, 1, 2557-2561.
Moldova, L. (2012). Integration of strategic management and quality assurance in the Romanian higher education. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 58, 1458-1465.
Othman, N., Hamzah, N., & Aziz, S. (2024). Towards a High Standard of Excellence in Malaysia’s Higher Education Institutions: Obstacles and Enablers. Journal of Administrative Science, 21(2), 75–90
Rahman, J. A., Ab-Rahman, M. S., Yusoff, A. R. M. (2017). A case study of programme educational objectives (PEOs) assessment requirements for the electrical and electronic engineering programme in Malaysian public universities. Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities. Volume 24. April. Pp. 251-268.
Ralph, N., Birks, M., Chapman, Y. (2013). The accreditation of nursing education in Australia. Collegian, Pp 1-5.
Rashid, M. H. (2012). The Process of Outcomes-Based Education-Implementation, Assessment and Evaluation. Penerbit UITM Press.
Rhodes, G., & Sporn, B. (2002). Quality assurance in Europe and the U.S.: Professional and political economic framing of higher education policy. Higher Education, 43, 355-390.
Sthapak, B. K. (2010). Globalisation of Indian engineering education through the Washington Accord. Journal of Engineering, Science & Management Education, 5(2), 464-466.
Thobega, M. (2010). Enhancing quality of tertiary education through program accreditation: A case of Botswana. Procedia - Social & Behavioral Sciences, 2, 2637-2641.
UNESCO (1993). Strategies for change and development in higher education. Policy paper in higher education.
UNESCO (2017). Quality assurance and accreditation: A glossary of basic terms and definitions. Bucharest.
Yusoff, A. R. M., Rahman, J. A., Ab-Rahman, M. S. (2017). Designing a reliable academic quality management system in nurturing future engineering professionals - a case study. Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities. Volume 24. April. Pp. 167-184, 2017.
Yusoff, A. R. M., and Ab-Rahman, M. S. (2016). Deployment Right Assessment for Programme Outcomes (PO) in Enhancing Curriculum Structure Development. Assessment for Learning within and Beyond the Classroom. Springer. Pp. 185- 198. 2016.
Ralph, N., Birks, M., & Chapman, Y. (2013). The accreditation of nursing education in Australia. Collegian, 21(1), 53–61.
Hidalgo, E., Villoria, J., & Romero-Cerezo, C. (2011). The necessity and challenge of setting up a quality assurance system in the higher education system in Andalusia (Spain). Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 15, 2972–2976.
Ab-Rahman, M. S., & Kaharudin, I. H. (2025). Academic Management System for Accreditation and Quality Assurance in Higher Education. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 15(11), 1017–1033.
Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s)
Published by Knowledge Words Publications (www.kwpublications.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode
