Provide opportunities to all to stop brain drain
I refer to the article “Academics take on new challenges” (Sunday Star, November 18).
Four non-bumiputra academicians were appointed deputy vice chancellors (DVC) for the various local universities on September 1 this year. This, we understand, is part of an exercise by the Higher Education Ministry is taking steps to recruit and promote more non-Malay academicians in local universities to improve the standards of these institutions of higher learning. This is not only encouraging but very timely indeed.
This positive action by the ministry is especially significant as it comes at a time when the international ranking of our universities is rapidly sliding year by year. In this year’s World University Rankings, all Malaysian universities, including our oldest and premier University of Malaya, have crashed out of the top-200 in the world.
This poor showing by our universities have frustrated and tend to jeopardise the government’s efforts to to lure foreign students and making the nation a educational hub in the region.The dismal performance even prompted the Prime Minister to comment “Our education may be cheap, but we must still have quality.We cannot accept cheap education but of low quality”.
It is noteworthy that these four DVCs have many years of service with their respective universities and it is only fair their experience and talents are being finally tapped for the benefit of the nation as a whole.The ministry and the university authorities concerned should allow them full freedom to carry out their tasks professionally in bringing about changes to higher education in our country.
At the same time it must be stressed that these promotions should not be just an isolated exercise which is politically motivated.Such recruitment and promotions of non-Malay professioals should be an ongoing policy,not just in universities but in all government and government-linked agencies.
In fact but all citizens who are eligible should be considered for such posts based purely on merit and not ethnicity or political alignment.There are many such highly talented,experienced and qualified Malaysians,both bumiputras and non-bumiputras,who are denied such priviledges due to certain unfair practices.Out of frustration they resort to the only way out by migrating to foreign countries that are quick to grab them with better offers for what they are worth.
It is a pity that every year we are losing many such highly capable professionals to other countries.This massive brain drain is already begining to affect us adversely in the global world where competition is purely based one’s capabilities and merits.There is no more handicaps for developing and poor nations as there used to be in the past.
To remain competitive in the world today,we need to tap the potentials of all citizens regardless of race,religion or political ideology.Marginalisation of our own talented citizens,based these parameters,is a sure way to our downfall as it will only benefit our opponents and competitors in the international arena.
Dr.Chris Anthony
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3 comments:
I agree with Dr.Anthony's comment that Maritocracy should be the basis of University appoinments. However the use of the yardstick must be judiciously applied.
Other factors such as, research efforts,alumni employability,faculty contribution to knowledge formation, ability to attract post graduate students globally, etc. are also important to be urgently addressed for ranking purposes.
MSAbdullah.
Years ago, to get a science degree after SPM you had to do 2 years of foundation (matriculation) followed by 4 years of the undergraduate work. That's 6 years of post secondary schooling.
Just a few years ago, the system was changed. I was too young and quite frankly not around to know the whole story. So I have no idea who or how or what was behind the change.
Students are now expected to cover the same material in 4 years.
SAME MATERIAL in 2 FEWER YEARS
(If I'm not mistaken, Engineering and Medicine have not been subjected to these changes).
Where should they fit in soft skills?
Have primary and highschools been preparing the students to cope with the sudden crunch? Are the students smarter now that the universities can afford to cram 6 years worth of work into 4 years of study? I would guess, no.
Can the average student truly cope?
I suppose the brilliant students will always get through, but what of the average or the below average?
I wonder if this change in education that started several years ago is one of the root causes in graduate unemployability.
Has anyone done a longitudinal study on the effect of the reduction in programme time?
Has anyone actually gone to the universities, talked to the lecturers, students about what's going on, and what we can do to help our undergrads to actually work when they get out? What kind of degrees are being offered? What is the curriculum? Are they mostly Honours degrees? Why? What is truly going on in our universities?
By StaceyB, 21-Nov-2007
I doubt appointing 4 non bumi DVCs’ can and will arrest the declining education standard in our local university. The political culture of meritocracy is so ingrain in the university’s life that it has become a fine art and an industry by itself. You need a back hoe and massive re structuring on a titanic scale to rid it.
The 4 DVC will not necessary attract good and talented academics. Good and talented academics will attract other academics who want to work with in research with them. This in turn attract good quality students.
Unless this 4 DVCs' (a minority) has the political will to drive an axe through the system. don't hold your breath for anything other than PR spin.
We talked about tertiary education as all engaging irrespective of race. But what type of message are these universities sending to the community with the continuing emphasis on bumi and non bumi (non bumi DVC been appointed). You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to figure it out that the community will interpret it that universities are in a mess due to the mismanagement by bumi senior leadership. This is re enforcing the antiquated mentality. There are fine bumi managers out there.
I think it is time to dump the race card.
By campuras, 22-Nov-2007
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