Nova Academy Now Awards Dual Diploma — Best IT College in Malaysia with IKMa Professional Diploma + UITM Poland Diploma (CONTeCT-Accredited)

— English Content

Introduction: Official Announcement

🎉 Big news.

Nova Academy has been officially accredited by CONTeCT (CONsortium TeChnical Education) and authorised to award graduates a Professional Diploma recognised by Institut Koperasi Malaysia (IKMa) — a Malaysian government agency under KUSKOP (the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development & Cooperatives).

This means, effective immediately, Nova graduates receive a Dual Diploma:

• 🌍 UITM Poland Diploma (EQF Level 5, internationally recognised)
• 🇲🇾 IKMa Professional Diploma (CONTeCT-accredited, KUSKOP government-backed)

One enrolment. Two independent diplomas. Double recognition.

This gives students more confidence and more pathways in further study, employment, and career development — with a stronger, broader, more secure qualification portfolio.

When parents and students first hear about CONTeCT and IKMa, the natural questions are: *What is this? Who is IKMa? How official is the government backing? How does it differ from MQA? What does the certificate look like?*

This article answers all of them.

1. What are CONTeCT and the IKMa Professional Diploma?

CONTeCT (CONsortium TeChnical Education) is Malaysia's national-level technical education accreditation framework, established in 2024. Its role is to accredit training providers that are qualified to confer professional diplomas.

IKMa (Institut Koperasi Malaysia) is a Malaysian government agency under KUSKOP (the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development & Cooperatives). IKMa is the official awarding body that confers the professional diploma.

The structure:

KUSKOP (Ministry of Entrepreneur Development & Cooperatives)
└── IKMa (Institut Koperasi Malaysia — Government Awarding Body)
└── CONTeCT (National Technical Education Consortium)
└── Nova Academy (Accredited Provider)

Simply:

• KUSKOP = the ministry (top)
• IKMa = the government agency that issues the diploma
• CONTeCT = the standards framework accrediting training providers
• Nova Academy = a CONTeCT-accredited provider authorised to award IKMa Professional Diplomas

Compared to the UITM Poland diploma:

• UITM Poland certifies your international academic/vocational level (EQF Level 5 standard)
• IKMa Professional Diploma certifies your Malaysian government-recognised professional skills (local government backing)

They're complementary, not substitutes.

2. What does the IKMa Professional Diploma look like?

The IKMa Professional Diploma that Nova graduates receive is issued directly by IKMa, bearing:

• ✅ CONTeCT accreditation mark (Est. 2024, CONSORTIUM TECHNICAL EDUCATION circular badge)
• ✅ INSTITUT KOPERASI MALAYSIA official logo (in national red and blue)
• ✅ KEMENTERIAN PEMBANGUNAN USAHAWAN DAN KOPERASI (KUSKOP) ministry crest
• ✅ Official statement: "Institut Koperasi Malaysia is a government agency under the Ministry of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Malaysia"
• ✅ Unique Certificate ID (e.g., 43a78fa0-be69-11ef-a916-03f2374eca22)
• ✅ QR-code verification (scan any time to authenticate)
• ✅ Diploma title format: "Professional Diploma in [Course Title]"

*Sample IKMa Professional Diploma — officially issued by Institut Koperasi Malaysia (IKMa), CONTeCT-accredited, KUSKOP government-backed. Each diploma carries a unique Certificate ID and QR-code for instant authentication.*

3. Why does IKMa + KUSKOP backing matter?

IKMa is a Malaysian government agency under KUSKOP (Ministry of Entrepreneur Development & Cooperatives) — a federal ministry responsible for:

• Supporting SMEs (Small & Medium Enterprises)
• Developing the cooperative (Koperasi) economy
• Advancing entrepreneurship education and vocational training

IKMa's role: As a government agency under KUSKOP, IKMa is the national cooperative institute with authority to confer professional diplomas in the government's name.

Why this backing matters — three reasons:

1. Government diploma ≠ private certificate

• Many certificates in the market are self-issued by private training centres
• The IKMa Professional Diploma is personally issued by a government agency
• The certificate carries three government marks: KUSKOP crest + IKMa logo + CONTeCT accreditation
• The certificate explicitly states: "INSTITUT KOPERASI MALAYSIA IS A GOVERNMENT AGENCY UNDER THE MINISTRY OF ENTREPRENEUR AND COOPERATIVES DEVELOPMENT MALAYSIA"

2. Enterprise-ready and skills-focused

• KUSKOP's core focus: "Can this graduate work in local companies or start their own?"
• This is fundamentally different from a purely academic qualification — built for both employment and entrepreneurship

3. Local employers understand it immediately

• Malaysian employers (especially SMEs) are far more familiar with KUSKOP/IKMa than with European EQF levels
• Seeing an IKMa diploma, local HR immediately understands: this is a legitimate, government-recognised professional

The 2024 launch of CONTeCT + IKMa awarding = Malaysia's formal institutionalisation of technical education. Nova is an accredited provider within this new framework.

4. IKMa Professional Diploma vs MQA: Two Independent Government Systems

Parents often ask: *"If I can apply for MQA equivalency after Nova, why do I also need the IKMa Professional Diploma?"*

Answer: they belong to two independent government systems, each solving different problems.

📊 Dimension · MQA Diploma / MQA Equivalency · IKMa Professional Diploma (CONTeCT)

Dimension: Issuing body | MQA Diploma / MQA Equivalency: Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) | IKMa Professional Diploma (CONTeCT): IKMa (Institut Koperasi Malaysia)

Dimension: Parent ministry | MQA Diploma / MQA Equivalency: Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) | IKMa Professional Diploma (CONTeCT): KUSKOP (Ministry of Entrepreneur Development & Cooperatives)

Dimension: Nature | MQA Diploma / MQA Equivalency: Academic/qualification level | IKMa Professional Diploma (CONTeCT): Government-issued professional diploma

Dimension: Assessment focus | MQA Diploma / MQA Equivalency: Academic rigour + syllabus alignment | IKMa Professional Diploma (CONTeCT): Applied skills + job readiness

Dimension: Used for | MQA Diploma / MQA Equivalency: Further study, civil service, professional registration | IKMa Professional Diploma (CONTeCT): Employment, entrepreneurship, local enterprise recognition

Dimension: International reach | MQA Diploma / MQA Equivalency: Via MQF-EQF mapping | IKMa Professional Diploma (CONTeCT): Primarily Malaysia

Dimension: Format | MQA Diploma / MQA Equivalency: Letter of recognition (for existing qualifications) | IKMa Professional Diploma (CONTeCT): Standalone, complete diploma

The core distinction:

• MQA asks: "What did you study, and at what level?"
• IKMa asks: "What can you do, and are you ready for Malaysian workplaces?"

These are the two different questions employers use when screening CVs:

1. "Is this a legitimate programme?" → MQA Letter of Recognition answers
2. "Does this graduate have a government-recognised professional diploma?" → IKMa Professional Diploma answers

Important: The IKMa Professional Diploma is a standalone, complete diploma — not a supplementary certificate. Nova graduates hold two independent, individually-verifiable diplomas — that's what "Dual Diploma" actually means.

5. The Dual Diploma: One Programme, Two Government-Issued Diplomas

Nova Academy graduates receive two independent, individually-verifiable diplomas:

📊 # · Diploma · Issuing Body · Level · Answers

#: 1 | Diploma: 🌍 UITM Poland Diploma | Issuing Body: University of Information Technology and Management, Rzeszów (Poland) | Level: EQF Level 5 (European Qualifications Framework) | Answers: "Is this recognised in Europe/internationally?"

#: 2 | Diploma: 🇲🇾 IKMa Professional Diploma | Issuing Body: Institut Koperasi Malaysia (Malaysian government agency) | Level: CONTeCT-accredited, KUSKOP-backed | Answers: "Does this have Malaysian government recognition?"

Optional add-on:

• MQA Letter of Recognition (Form NT 01, applied for after graduation) — equivalency letter for the UITM Poland diploma

Why the Dual Diploma matters:

• One enrolment, two complete diplomas — not "one diploma + one attachment," but two genuine full diplomas
• International + local recognition simultaneously — UITM recognised in Europe + IKMa issued by a Malaysian government agency
• Coverage across every pathway:
• Want to pursue a Master's in Europe? → UITM Poland (EQF directly recognised)
• Want a government-linked role? → MQA Letter of Recognition
• Want to work in local enterprise or start a business? → IKMa Professional Diploma (KUSKOP system's strongest local signal)

This is Nova's "more confidence, more paths" Dual Diploma strategy.

6. Who benefits most from the IKMa Professional Diploma?

✅ Graduates entering the local Malaysian workforce

• Local SMEs especially value KUSKOP-system government diplomas
• When applying, seeing an IKMa government-issued diploma gives local HR immediate confidence
• Particularly valuable in manufacturing, services, and retail digital-transformation roles

✅ Students planning to start a business in Malaysia

• KUSKOP is itself the entrepreneurship ministry
• When applying for government grants (TEKUN, MARA), cooperative registration, or B2B partnerships — IKMa is an official advantage

✅ Parents/students worried about international-only credentials

• Holding only UITM Poland, some worry about local acceptance
• The IKMa Professional Diploma = a diploma personally issued by a Malaysian government agency — the most direct "yes, government-recognised locally" proof
• KUSKOP crest + IKMa logo + CONTeCT mark = three government endorsements visible at a glance

✅ Parents worried about "degree mills"

• A diploma issued by a government agency + QR-code verification + unique Certificate ID
• Clears the bar for any "degree mill" check the market could apply

⚠️ Less critical if:

• You plan to work abroad immediately — UITM Poland (EQF Level 5) suffices alone
• Your goal is a local university Master's — MQA Letter of Recognition is more important

7. How do Nova students earn the IKMa Professional Diploma? Any extra fee?

Nova students receive it automatically. No extra fee.

Nova Academy is officially CONTeCT-accredited and is a qualified training provider. Complete the Nova IT professional diploma programme and you receive both:

• ✅ UITM Poland Diploma (EQF Level 5)
• ✅ IKMa Professional Diploma (CONTeCT-accredited, KUSKOP system)

How it works:

• No extra fee — the IKMa diploma is included in Nova's programme fee (from RM19,500)
• No extra credits — earned via standard Nova course assessment
• Awarded together at graduation — both UITM + IKMa diplomas conferred at the same time
• Each diploma is independently verifiable — the IKMa diploma carries a unique Certificate ID and QR-code for instant authentication

8. FAQ

Q: Who issues the IKMa Professional Diploma? A: Institut Koperasi Malaysia (IKMa) — a Malaysian government agency under KUSKOP (Ministry of Entrepreneur Development & Cooperatives). Nova Academy, as a CONTeCT-accredited provider, confers the diploma to qualifying graduates.

Q: What is CONTeCT? A: CONTeCT = CONsortium TeChnical Education — Malaysia's national-level technical education accreditation framework, established in 2024, led by IKMa. It accredits training providers qualified to confer professional diplomas.

Q: How does the IKMa diploma differ from an MQA diploma? A: They belong to different government systems. IKMa is under KUSKOP (Ministry of Entrepreneur Development & Cooperatives), emphasising applied skills + employment/entrepreneurship. MQA is under MOHE (Ministry of Higher Education), emphasising academic level. IKMa issues a standalone diploma; MQA provides an equivalency letter for existing qualifications.

Q: How highly do local employers regard the IKMa Professional Diploma? A: Highly. Reasons: (1) personally issued by a government agency with the KUSKOP ministry crest + IKMa logo; (2) the certificate explicitly states IKMa is a government agency; (3) QR-code verification ensures authenticity at any time; (4) local employers' familiarity with the KUSKOP system (and peers like HRDC, JPK) is far higher than with European EQF.

Q: Can I use the IKMa diploma for civil service applications? A: Civil service typically requires MQA equivalent qualifications. Nova students should also apply for the MQA Letter of Recognition (Form NT 01) for their UITM Poland diploma. The IKMa diploma is strongest in private-sector, SME, and entrepreneurship contexts.

Q: Is the IKMa diploma recognised abroad? A: IKMa is a local Malaysian government diploma — primarily valid in Malaysia. For international recognition, rely on the UITM Poland diploma (EQF Level 5, directly recognised across the EU27 + UK + Australia).

Q: Do I pay extra for the IKMa Professional Diploma? A: No. It's included in Nova's programme fee, awarded alongside the UITM Poland diploma at graduation.

Q: How do I verify an IKMa diploma? A: Each IKMa Professional Diploma carries a unique Certificate ID and QR-code. Scan with any phone to authenticate instantly. This is IKMa's government-grade anti-fraud design.

Q: CONTeCT was only established in 2024 — is it mature enough? A: CONTeCT represents KUSKOP's formal institutionalisation of technical education — a signal that government is standardising the space, which is a positive indicator. IKMa itself has existed for many years as a well-established Malaysian government institute.

9. Bottom line: Dual Diploma = more confidence, more pathways

Malaysian employers screen CVs with two core questions:

1. "Is the programme legitimate?" — answered by UITM Poland + MQA Letter of Recognition
2. "Does the graduate have a government-recognised professional diploma?" — answered by IKMa Professional Diploma

Holding only UITM Poland, the first question can be answered via EQF. But only a diploma personally issued by a government agency directly answers the second. The IKMa Professional Diploma is the local government endorsement Nova has secured for its students.

That's why Nova graduates walk out not with one diploma, but with two independent, individually-verifiable government/international diplomas — giving students independent proof across every possible pathway.

One enrolment. Two diplomas. Double recognition.

CTA

👉 Ready to enrol? Talk to Nova's admissions team

Free one-on-one consultation — no commitment. Questions about the Dual Diploma (UITM Poland + IKMa), CONTeCT accreditation, tuition instalment plans, course details, or the MQA equivalency process? We'll get back to you within 24 hours.

📱 WhatsApp (fastest): Message us now → · 013-9205895

📧 Email enquiry: Contact form →

📍 Campus visit: MRANTI Park, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur (by appointment — guided tour of classrooms + facilities)

🕐 Hours: Mon–Fri, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

📖 Related: *Will My International Diploma Be Recognised in Malaysia? The Complete Guide to MQA Equivalency*