Synergising Halal Education Stakeholders’ Administration and Governance in Malaysia

This paper discusses the development and current landscape of Malaysia's halal education ecosystem since 2009 and highlights some challenges it faces. The history of Malaysian halal education can be divided into five sectors. First, Islamic Education for Integrated Secondary School Curriculum (KBSM) Ministry of Education Malaysia (MOE). Second, halal academic programs at higher education institutions. Third, Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM) Halal Profesional Board training program. Fourth, Malaysia’s National Occupational Skills Standard (NOSS) for halal training. Lastly is the halal awareness and public training conducted by the Halal Development Corporation (HDC), Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI). Each halal education development sector has different characteristics, purposes, and targeted participants. Currently, the halal education institutions are administrated by five ministries with three other certification systems from the Ministry of Education Malaysia (MOE), the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs), the Ministry of Human Resources and Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI). This paper provides an overview and an analysis of the halal education programs and the governance issues, including several challenges in administrating the halal education ecosystem. Various published documents have been reviewed to comprehensively summarise the literature on Malaysia’s halal education synergism and governance issues. This study also hopes to suggest specific measures for effective governance of the halal education sector so that the decisions and actions of multiple stakeholders toward driving the performance and quality of this sector can be harmonized. Nevertheless, uncoordinated education systems and mismatched skills jobs remain critical challenges for the halal industry’s human capital.