UPSI LAUNCHES FIRST PSYCHOMETRICS PROFILING FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AND ACADEMIC STAFF

Profiling developed in collaboration with MIMOS aims to enhance decision-making towards quality education

KUALA LUMPUR, 24 SEPTEMBER 2013:  Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) in Tanjung Malim, Perak recently launched UPSI Pscychometrics; a project developed in collaboration with MIMOS to be used in educational institutions to better assess students as well as academic staff.

This strategic partnership between UPSI and MIMOS successfully blends both respective expertise and technologies to jointly develop 4 instruments that can be used to better assess the suitability of students towards their topic of study, and therefore, to maximise the students potential to excel in their education.

UPSI Psychometrics launched by Datuk Dr Abu Bakar Mohamad Diah, MOSTI Deputy Minister. Looking on is Dr Haniza Yon, Head of MIMOS Psychometrics Cluster.

The Psychometrics Cluster at MIMOS is instrumental is promoting and practising psychometrics in Malaysia and has the expertise in the fundamentals and applications of psychometrics theories and techniques as well as psychometric-related technologies for educational as well as psychological testing in Malaysia.

MIMOS’ collaboration with UPSI, synonymous with the Malaysian education field creates a synergy with the latter as a subject matter expert in the development of tests namely in the field of Psychology, ICT, Mathematics, Malay Language, English language to enhance decision-making towards quality education.

Dr Haniza Yon, Head of MIMOS Psychometrics Cluster said that four of the developed tests by UPSI and MIMOS are Aptitude Test for University, Proficiency in ICT, Computer-assisted English Language Test and Ujian Nilai BITARA.

“This Psychometrics Profiling will enhance decision-making in the selection of students by systematically gauging their abilities as well as evaluate the proficiency of university staff. It is time Malaysia adopts a methodical and objective approach such as these, which will benefit not just the university, but the community in the long run,” added Dr. Haniza.
The Aptitude Test for University (AT4U) identifies students’ potential thus enhances their learning based on their ability and can also identify the best candidates for placement purposes into programmes offered by the university.

The Proficiency in ICT (ProfIT) measure competencies of individuals in using various ICT applications for placement purposes. It can identify individuals’ strengths and weaknesses in ICT competencies and assists learning institutions in evaluation and benchmarking of their ICT programmes.

The Computer-assisted English Language Test (CaELT) serves as a placement test into programmes based on students’ strengths and weaknesses in English language. This will enable scaffolding to weak students and at the same time provide insights into their future English capability.

Lastly, the Ujian Nilai BITARA helps in professional development and selection of academic staff to ensure that academicians’ values are align with institution’s vision and mission.