The Effect of Advanced Education on Career Development

Abstract

This study aims to determine the effect of advanced higher education on the administrative and diplomatic service career path. This study specifically aims to examine the average promotion period of officers who successfully completed the Federal Training Scholarship (HLP) compared to officers who do not enrol such programme. This paper also identifies the phenomenon of advanced education mismatch among officers who enrol this program. Data from the Malaysian Public Service Department containing information on 586 administrative and diplomatic service grade M54, is used in this study. The Mincer Model (1974) is used in achieving the research objective. The findings show that officers who enrol the HLP program are on average being promoted faster than the officers who do not enrol such program. However, among the officers who enrol the program, there is no obvious difference in the promotion period between the masters degree holders and PhD holders. However, among the officers who participate in the HLP programme, there is no discernible difference in the promotion period between the masters degree holders and PhD holders. The analysis further shows the existence of advanced education mismatch phenomenon, in which officers who have completed the HLP programme have performed tasks that is unrelated to their advanced degrees taken.