The MS ISO 9000:2000 Quality Management System is a universal quality system that can be used to manage the processes involved in production or services. The system also enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of the management system of an organisation in order to fulfill the needs and expectations of the clients. With the implementation of the ISO 9000, UTeM believed that it can enhance services given in particular to the processes of teaching and learning. Hence, initiatives that were made towards quality management system have resulted to the certification of the MS ISO 9001:2000.

To achieve the objectives of ISO 9001: 2000, a steering committee has been set up:

• To monitor status and initiatives progress of the ISO 9000 implementation
• To identify, coordinate and provide resources needed for the implementation of a quality system
• To ensure a quality system understood by UTeM citizen and compliance in work processes
• To provide assistance and support to gain acceptance and compliance to quality system
• To identify those responsible to prepare quality manual, work procedures and work instructions

The university’s management aimed to be certified MS ISO 9001:2000 by early 2005. SIRIM Berhad has been appointed as the consultant to provide assistance in training and facilitate in documentation. A work plan that includes talks, trainings, campaigns, documentation and audit are continuously implemented to assist initiatives. To increase awareness and obtain participation among UTeM’s citizens, a launching of the ISO 9000 system was held on 7 October 2003 at the Seri Negeri Auditorium, Ayer Keroh, Melaka by the Chairman of UTeM Board of Director, The Honourable Tan Sri Dato· Seri (Dr.) Mohd Saleh Sulong. In this event, the Honourable Rector handed UTeM’s quality policy to signify the pledge by UTeM towards making quality as a work culture. To further assist comprehension of the needs for standard, a guidebook towards MS ISO 9001: 2000 certification was published and distributed.

On November 2003, a seminar entitled ISO 9000 Appreciation Seminar was held at CUBIC Electronics. University’s top management, Deans and members of the ISO 9000 Steering Committee attended this seminar conducted by SIRIM Berhad. Besides that, the Campaign and Promotion Committee have intensifed efforts of disseminating information. The committee has outlined several approaches with the aim of increasing the awareness towards quality in UTeM. Among these efforts were the development of Quality Information website, ISO badge, Banting, Posters on ‘Policy and Objectives of Quality’ and publishing a book entitled “Guidebook towards MS ISO 9001:2000 Certification.”

To facilitate preparation of ISO documents, UTeM implemented a unique approach by establishing the Process Ownership Team. This approach was a success with the participation of many representatives from various faculties and departments. 9 Process Ownership Teams were established to steer efforts of writing the UTeM’s ISO document. The groups were as follow:

• Teaching and Learning
• Academic Affairs
• Evaluation of Teaching and Learning Services
• Students Affairs
• Human Resource Management
• Finance
• Physical Infrastructure and Facilities
• Library
• System Management

With this approach, the ISO documents were prepared in a period of 4 months. This started from January 2004 and ended on April 2004. UTeM ISO documents that were successfully prepared consisted of one Quality Manual, sixty two Prosedures and four Guidelines. The implementation of ISO 9001:2000 was carried out on a trial basis. This involves the scope of teaching and learning for the Bachelor and Diploma levels beginning 5 May 2004. Subsequently, the formal implementation took place on 1 June 2004. On 30 July 2004, SIRIM QAS conducted Adequacy Audit. The purpose was to evaluate and ensure that documents prepared were sufficient and fulfill standard needs for the scope of ‘Teaching and Learning’.Several staff were selected to be internal auditors. They were trained on techniques of internal auditing by SIRIM Berhad on the 9 and 10 August 2004. To further strengthen auditors’ competency, a workshop was held on the 27 and 28 August 2004 at the Awana, Genting.  Then, these auditors conducted Internal Quality Audit on sixteen departments and faculties throughout September 2004. On 30 November 2004 a meeting known as Management Review Meeting was held attended by UTeM’s top management. This is one of the activities in the MS ISO 9001:2000 required by the standard. This is done to evaluate the effectiveness of the implementation of Quality Management System.

As preparation prior to Compliance Audit, a pre-audit exercise was carried out by SIRIM Berhad Auditors on 14 – 15 December 2004 with the objective of identifying level of compliance by Departments/ Units. Compliance Audit was carried out on 29-31 December 2004. Four auditors from SIRIM QAS International Sdn. Bhd. audited through the use of sampling methods on processes in the scope of “Teaching and Learning”. Only five NCRs and nine observations were identified by auditors. However, as the NCRs identified were minor, UTeM were basically granted the MS ISO 9001:2000 certification uponcorrection of NCRs within two months. Finally, on 4 February 2005, UTeM was awarded the Certification of MS ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System by Sirim QAS International Sdn. Bhd.

The MS ISO 9001:2000 Certification awarded to UTeM according to the scopes of :

• Design and Development of Education Programs
• Provision of Education at Undergraduate Level

Registered Certification Number: AR 3543

It is the responsibility of a university to ensure that graduates produced by the university fulfil the needs of the various stakeholders after undergoing UTeMs systematic processes of teaching and learning. The quality of professional courses such as Engineering is based upon criteria set by the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM). An accreditation unit of BEM evaluates the quality of courses offered by UTeM. Only courses that meet the criteria will be awarded accreditation by BEM.

For IT courses, recognition is granted by the Malaysia Qualification Agency (MQA). Graduates undergoing programs accredited and recognised by MQA are usually eligible to work in the public sector.