Majlis Dekan Pengajian Siswazah ( Council of Deans of Graduate Studies ) (MDPS) formerly known as Postgraduate Studies Management Meeting was founded in 1998 by a group of Graduate School / Centre Deans of Public Higher Education Institutions (IPTA). The idea to have this meeting was mooted by UKM. The purpose of MDPS is to serve as a forum for School / Centre of Graduate Studies of IPTA to share best practices, exchange ideas, experiences and networking among its members for mutual benefits. The first meeting was held on 15 April 1998 and attended by six universities namely UKM, UM, UTM, UPM, UUM, And UMS.

During the early years of MDPS, the Chairman was elected among the members of MDPS on a rotational basis and normally the Dean who hosted the meeting, while UKM has been appointed as permanent Secretariat. The first chairman was Prof. Dr. Abdul Samad Hadi from UKM. In 2004, University of Malaya has been appointed as MDPS Chairman for two years and by virtue of the chairmanship the Secretariat was also handed to University of Malaya. Currently MDPS is chaired by Prof. Dr. Zaidatun Tasir from UTM. The Secretariat role was also passed over to UTM, beginning  the term 2016/2017 after it has been chaired by UiTM for two years, from the term 2014/2015.

Since its inception in 1998, MDPS has expanded steadily and at present has 25 members. The members are UTM, UM, USM, UKM, UPM, UUM, UNIMAS, UMS, UiTM, UIAM, UPSI, UTeM, UMP, USIM, UTHM, UPSI, UNIMAP, UMT, UMK, UNISZA, UTP, UNITEN, Graduate School of Business (USM), Graduate School of Business (UKM), and Putra Business School. MDPS usually convenes three meetings a year and members will take turn to host the meetings. To date MDPS has convened 43 meetings. One of the uniqueness of MDPS meeting is that all members are encouraged to get at least one of their administrative officers who is in charge in graduate studies to accompany them in the meetings. This has allowed better network and follow-up actions. In its 14th meeting, MDPS passed a Term of Reference (TOR) for MDPS which outlines its scopes and activities. Under the said TOR for MDPS’s scope and functions have been expanded to include its roles as a referral body to the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) with regards to the development and expansion of graduate studies, and proposing policies on graduate studies to the appropriate parties.

MDPS has contributed significantly towards the advancement of graduate studies in the country. It has submitted a strategic plan which has been used as an input for MOHE in formulating its Strategic Plan 2010 pertaining to graduate studies. MDPS has also organised a bi-annual international conference in postgraduate education, published a hand book on supervision of postgraduate students, and made recommendation on policy of graduate studies to MOHE and has good rapport with MOHE. For example, MDPS representatives have been invited by MOHE on several occasions to give input and views to upgrade postgraduate education in Malaysia and turn this country into a hub for postgraduate education in this region.

Of late MDPS has also been holding postgraduate education exhibitions during its meetings so that many could have access to postgraduate education opportunities and understand the importance of postgraduate education in supporting the nation’s progress, thus, generating high quality and knowledgeable workers. MDPS’s contribution towards promoting and developing postgraduate education is very significant and two Private Higher Learning Institutions (government linked private universities ) IPTS, UNITEN and Universiti Teknologi Petronas have requested to attend MDPS meeting to observe and learn, and share best practices in providing and managing postgraduate education.

It closing, it is evident that MDPS plays an important role in developing and expanding the postgraduate education in the country. The synergy and collabations among IPTA in elevating the quality of postgraduate education is very essential in making Malaysia a centre for postgraduate education in the region.