What Kind Of Universities Do We Want?
http://www.malaysiakini.com/link/eNrLKCkpsNLXT9UrzsxLzkgt183US87P1U/OzytJzSvRK8goyc2xL05NtjUyU0ssKslMsTUyMDAxNDIAUgbGALN4FEE=
Higher Education Minister Datuk Dr Hj Mohd Shafie b
Salleh said his ministry had set up three committees
to promote the quality of our institutions of higher
learning in a bid to win oversea recognition of our
qualifications and lure foreign students to pursue
their studies here.
It helps enhance the learning environment here by
making our public and private institutions world class
and of enviable standards.
However, while the Higher Education Ministry is
pushing ahead the agenda to make Malaysia a regional
hub of educational excellence and luring more foreign
students here, it is essential that the government
sets its objectives clear.
To be a hub of educational excellence, does it mean
that all we want is to produce as many technical
specialists as possible, or possess a conducive,
liberal and open learning environment which will
produce graduates who can think independently?
Many world-class universities, such as Oxford and
Cambridge in the United Kingdom, Harvard and Yale in
the United States, Qinghua and Beijing in China and
Waseda in Japan, are known for their superior academic
achievements, high quality teaching approach and
research standards, as well as liberal learning
environment.
Learning environment is the foundation of a
university, and its soul and spirit too. Such an
environment is moulded by individual universities
based on their respective missions and visions into an
intangible force to contribute to the character
building of the students.
In Malaysia, university students are made to wear
their uniforms, and those involved in politics are
reprimanded. Such practices are a far cry from the
liberal learning environment world-class institutions
are known for.
The academic levels of some of our universities are of
deplorable standards, their professional
qualifications questionable and their graduates in
risk of unemployment. All these, to a major extent,
are attributed to the poor learning environment and
education orientation of our institutions of higher
learning.
Our universities are too result-driven, blindly
setting up hotly pursued courses, overemphasising
technological advancements while overlooking the
importance of humanity subjects.
Rectifying this issue should be more important than
simply trying to lure more foreign students to study
in this country.
It is commendable that the Higher Education Ministry
is keen to promote the quality of local universities.
However, if local universities do not emphasise
liberal learning environment and the cultivation of
more independent-thinking students, no practical
effects will be produced no matter how many committees
we are going to set up.
Sin Chew Daily
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