APEL Pathways at OUM

What if your years of work experience could do more than build your career? What if they could also help you gain admission to university, earn academic credits, or even obtain a recognised qualification?

Those were among the key questions explored during the recent Knowledge Sharing Session: Understanding APEL Pathways at OUM, organised by the Centre for Quality Assurance (CQA) in collaboration with the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) Centre on 19 June 2026. Held online via Google Meet, the session was moderated by Dr Suhaila binti Abdul Hamid, Director of CQA, and featured Encik Rohaizak bin Omar @ Abd Rahim, Director of the APEL Centre, as the speaker.

One message resonated throughout the session: “Learning doesn’t only happen in classrooms – it can also happen in the workplace, in communities, and through everyday experience,” said Encik Rohaizak bin Omar @ Abd Rahim, Director of OUM’s APEL Centre.

At OUM, that possibility is real through the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL). If you have gained knowledge through work, life, or professional practice, that learning can be recognised for university admission, academic credit, or even the award of a qualification.

That’s why OUM offers three APEL pathways to support you at different stages of your learning journey.

If you wish to start a degree but don’t meet traditional entry requirements, APEL.A can help you get there. Your prior learning is assessed through an aptitude test and portfolio, with an interview required for selected programmes. International candidates may also apply for eligible bachelor’s and master’s programmes, making higher education more accessible wherever you are.

If you are already studying at OUM, APEL.C helps you move forward faster. Instead of repeating what you already know, you can demonstrate your competencies through a challenge test or portfolio assessment and receive academic credit for selected courses. graduate sooner. Depending on the programme, up to 60% of the required credits may be awarded through APEL.C, helping you graduate sooner.

If you are an experienced professional, APEL.Q gives you a way to have your expertise formally recognised at degree level. Through a structured assessment that includes a portfolio, workplace validation visit, challenge tests, and a capstone project, your professional mastery is evaluated for the award of an academic qualification. Successful candidates receive the same OUM degree scroll and academic transcript. They also receive a Malaysian Qualification Statement documenting that the qualification was awarded through the APEL.Q pathway.

Whether you are just starting out, already on your learning journey, or have built years of industry experience, APEL is designed to move you forward. It gives value to what you already know and turns it into new opportunities.

At OUM, your experience matters. With APEL, it becomes a pathway to your next qualification – and your next chapter.

To learn more or begin your APEL journey, visit https://apel.oum.edu.my/ or contact the APEL Centre at apel@oum.edu.my.