Why having integrity is better than having a 'degree'
COMMENT | When people ask me about my academic background, my usual response is to joke that I have a diploma that is of equivalent value to toilet paper.
As a young adult, I sought to pursue a diploma in broadcasting with the Malaysian Institute of Integrative Media (MIIM) – at one point known as Akademi TV3, before the TV giant divested its education arm.
Being young and carefree, I did not do my due diligence and only found out after my course began that all diploma programmes offered by the college were not accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA)...
COMMENT | When people ask me about my academic background, my usual response is to joke that I have a diploma that is of equivalent value to toilet paper.
As a young adult, I sought to pursue a diploma in broadcasting with the Malaysian Institute of Integrative Media (MIIM) – at one point known as Akademi TV3, before the TV giant divested its education arm.
Being young and carefree, I did not do due diligence and only found out after my course began that all diploma programmes offered by the college were not accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA).
My alma mater closed its doors sometime in the early 2010s. Many graduates have tried – unsuccessfully – to get their money back.
I do not regret studying there, however, because I did learn useful practical skills, although I now work in a different field.
Nonetheless, my experience shaped my belief that while tertiary education can be useful, it is not a prerequisite to having a good career or to be successful.
Instead, I find working hard (or smart), being honest and having integrity as more vital.
Hence it is baffling that some people, including high-ranking individuals in the government, would want to pad their credentials with dubious certificates from institutes far more questionable than the one in which I studied.
Surely, becoming the CEO of a successful company despite not having tertiary education is something to be more proud of than having a degree that was not properly earned.
While there will always be bullies and snobs who look down on others without paper qualifications, there are many more who would look up to those who have become successful without.
However, all this relies on a system of trust.
Namely, trust that you can do a good job with the task at hand, and trust that you will not betray those who put their faith in you.
Hence, there is no real shame in not having a degree, because the real shame – that which actually hurts your reputation – is being touted as someone lacking in integrity.
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ZIKRI KAMARULZAMAN is a member of the Malaysiakini team.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
