Higher Education Policy Study (Input Sought)

[chenchow]

The Higher Education Ministry is in the process of studying, reviewing and making recommendations concerning the development and direction of higher education in Malaysia.

It is seeking inputs from fellow Malaysians, and I hope that fellow ReComers could either submit your idea/feedback on your own, or you can get together a few people to submit your view points, or you can discuss it over here in ReCom.

The questions asked are:-
1. What are the strengths of higher education in Malaysia?
2. What are the weaknesses of higher education in Malaysia?
3. What are the opportunities for higher education in Malaysia?
4. What are the threats to higher education in Malaysia?

1. What in your opinion is a world class higher education system?
2. What are the characteristics of world class higher education system?
3. What do we have to do to achieve world class status?

http://policystudy.uitm.edu.my/en/feedback.jsp

Lets share our experience, to help improve the higher education in Malaysia.

[cquayhl]

So...how are we supposed to read this in light of the Gomez affair?

Charis.

[tank]

My 2 cents:

1. What are the strengths of higher education in Malaysia?

ANS:
i. Despite the declining standards, the higher education sector is at least still capable of producing graduates who meet the "bare minimum" requirements of the various industries.
ii. Despite the decining standards, we can still produce a handful of brilliant genuine home-grown academics who contribute not only to Malaysia but the whole world.
iii. Despite growing restrictions, the spirit of critical thinking, adherence to moral principles and upholding the truth is still alive (but on life support) in small pockets around our campuses.

2. What are the weaknesses of higher education in Malaysia?

ANS:
i. Excessive political influence. For the admin, political connection and affiliation to a particular party is emphasized at the expense of academic proficiency. Universities become mass propaganda machines rather than bastions of academic excellence and critical thinking. Universities serve politicians rather than the students. Universities indoctrinate rather than educate.
ii. Nontransparent and unaccountable administrative procedures because most uni admins hold too much power.
iii. Most public universities do not reflect the true Malaysian society- uni admins shape the on-campus social build-up at will rather than letting a more natural evolution take place.
iv. Uni admins treat students like immature wet-behind-the-ears brats and do not allow them to have a say in running the universities, despite the fact that universities exist for students.

3. What are the opportunities for higher education in Malaysia?

ANS:
We have too many universities (public or private) already!

4. What are the threats to higher education in Malaysia?

ANS:
1. Unethical politicians.
2. Apathetic Malaysians who think everything is alright with our universities or Malaysia in general. (e.g. people who keep quoting our universities' gold medal awards in XXXX-invention expos).