TEMPOH DUA TAHUN PENGAJIAN PROGRAM DIPLOMA UNDANG-UNDANG: IMPLIKASI TERHADAP PELAJAR DAN CADANGAN PENAMBAHBAIKAN [TWO YEARS DURATION OF DIPLOMA IN LAW PROGRAMME: IMPLICATION ON STUDENTS AND SUGGESTION FOR IMPROVEMENT]

Abstract

Abstrak: Kajian bertujuan menganalisis keberkesanan tempoh pengajian dua tahun program Diploma Undang-undang bagi menghasilkan graduan yang kompetitif dalam meneroka peluang kerjaya dan mampu berdaya saing dari sudut akademik dengan pelajar lulusan matrikulasi, asasi, Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM) dan Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM) apabila berpeluang menyambung pengajian ke peringkat ijazah sarjana muda. Penyelidikan ini menggunakan kaedah pendekatan kualitatif yang merangkumi data primer dan sekunder. Data primer diperoleh melalui temubual dengan pemegang taruh, manakala data sekunder diperoleh daripada jurnal, buku, kertas kerja, akhbar, majalah, e-jurnal dan sumber internet. Hasil kajian mendapati pelajar terjejas dengan tempoh singkat pengajian namun dalam masa yang sama tidak bersetuju tempoh pengajian diploma Undang-undang dipanjangkan kepada tiga tahun. Berdasarkan maklumbalas melalui temubual dengan pihak pemegang taruh, beberapa cadangan turut dikemukakan bagi meningkatkan kualiti program serta prestasi pelajar tanpa perlu melanjutkan tempoh pengajian program. Adalah diharapkan segala pandangan dapat dipertimbangkan bagi memastikan pelajar tidak terbeban dengan struktur kurikulum yang ditawarkan sekaligus mampu menguasai prinsip asas perundangan serta membantu mereka untuk mencapai kecemerlangan dari segi akademik dan kerjaya.

Abstract: The article aims to analyse the effectiveness of the two years study period for Diploma in Law programme in producing graduates who are competitive in exploring career opportunity as well as able to competitiveness in academic with other candidates from matriculation, foundation, the Malaysian Higher School Certificate (STPM) and the Malaysian Higher Religious Certificate (STAM) backgrounds, in the course of advancing education in the bachelor degree level. The research employed a qualitative approach that comprised of primary and secondary data were obtained from journals, books, papers, newspaper, magazine, e-journals and internet sources. The findings reveal that students are affected by the short period of study but at the same time reluctant to agree for the study period to be extended to three years. Based on feedbacks from interviews with stakeholders, several suggestions are also presented in order to improve the quality of the programme and the student performance without having to extend the duration of study. It is hoped that all views can be considered to improve the quality of the program without extending the duration of study period of Diploma in Law, so as to ensure that students are not burdened with the curriculum structure offered and at the same time able to adept the fundamental principles of laws to help them to achieve academic and career excellence.