The induction of higher-degree programmes in Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) was initiated in 1970 and has evolved considerably in response to new and tougher demands and expectations from various stakeholders, such as the government, the business community and society at large. To address the steady increase of candidates enrolling in higher-degree programmes, the Institute of Postgraduate Studies (IPS) was officially established in 1991 to strategies, manage and monitor the progression of higher degree programmes in USM.