More Posts, Faster Promotion For Varsity Lecturers. Greater Autonomy Perhaps?

The Cabinet has agreed to create more posts and expedite the process of promotion for lecturers at public institutions of higher learning. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the additional incentives were part of efforts by the government to raise the local university standards as well as retaining high quality lecturers.

Najib said the government had in principle agreed to meet the demand of universities for wider autonomous power in the administration and promotion exercise. "I am aware that there is a demand for us to give more autonomy to universities in the real sense of the word but we will do it in stages," he said.

Najib also said the government would encourage experienced professionals from the private and public sectors to teach at universities, as being practised in other countries. "We want to encourage a smooth migration of their service from the government or the private sector to become an academician. We have the allocation for contracts and so forth," he said.

Earlier in his speech, the Deputy Prime Minister underlined five key thrusts for Malaysia to respond the formidable challenges of globalising its higher education and becoming a regional hub of academic excellence. They are:

* Local universities and colleges must offer courses and programmes pertinent to the country's development and graduates produced must have skill and knowledge relevant to industries.

* The enhancement of its human capital as a key pillar to our incessant development.

* Malaysia's institutions should link themselves closely with industries.

* Greater involvement of industrial practitioners to teach undergraduates or postgraduates.

* Universities should not be the exclusive domain of locals. It should be an infusion of local and global talents to ensure quality teaching.

In spite of the prevailing trends of modernisation, Najib said the market forces and industry requirements should not solely determine the direction of higher education. "It's true we need accountants, engineers and IT experts. However, our universities and colleges must also be centres that advance our knowledge of culture," he said.

He added if Malaysian universities strove to be truly world class institutions, they must be open to all knowledge and ideas and encourage a contestation of ideas.

"We believe Malaysia has a natural strength in its cultural diversity to prosper as an inter-civilisation knowledge centre even as we give attention to technological innovation, scientific research and financial management," said Najib.

**** Najib has a knack for saying appropriate things at the right place and I do agree with him on a lot of what he advocates. The other day he spoke of the importance of the US and emulating the American Dream. Even on the subject of universities, he is accurate in his opinions, but the problem comes only in the translation of what he speaks into reality. Therein lies the problem.

It is no secret that many lecturers, both Malays and non-Malays, especially the latter, are either putting up with extreme frustration or have had enough and quit due to unfair promotion practices by the authorities. If we want world-class varsities then please exercise strict meritocracy in the promotion and rewarding of academicians. At least part of the battle for excellence could be won. The other part and the most crucial one is of course admission of students on merit. On that score it looks like we are destined to remain third-world for another century or two.