Abstract

Islamic Civilization and Asian Civilization (TITAS) course at Public Higher Educational Institution (IPTA) has long been implemented in National University of Malaysia (UKM). In UKM, it is compulsory for all students to sit for TITAS paper, and this requirement is applied to both Muslim and non-Muslim students. This is different for students enrolled in Private Higher Educational Institutions (IPTS) where its operation is subject to the Private Higher Educational Institutions Act 1996, or known as Act 555 which serves to regulate the establishment, registration, management and supervision as well as the monitoring of quality of education provided by IPTS. Based on the provisions provided in Section 43, all IPTS should teach Malaysian Studies and Islamic Studies subjects for Muslim students and Moral Education subject for non-Muslim students. These subjects are known as Compulsory Subject (MPW) and must be taken by all students and are considered as must-pass subjects for graduating. Thus, after 15 years of MPW implementation, the Ministry of Education has revamped the structure MPW into General Subject (MPU). Among the goals of this new structure is to improve students’ potential ability towards producing holistic students and homogenizing general education curriculum between IPTA and IPTS. This objective is achieved through the appreciation of philosophy, values and history, soft skills mastery, broadening of knowledge according the Malaysian way and the application of soft skills. Therefore, this article will discuss the Islamic Civilization and Asian Civilization course in the new MPU structure in IPTS in comparison with the IPTA. From the discussion, it was found that Islamic Civilization and Asian Civilization course has been applied in the MPU structure towards producing students who appreciate good values and identity. At the same time, suggestions were also presented, so that the elements of science and technology will also be adopted in Islamic Civilization and Asian Civilization course especially in matters regarding the roles and contributions of Science and Technology to world civilization.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.