UM Ranking is a Plus Factor
August 19, 2011
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/173503
UM Ranking is a Plus Factor, not a Personal Obsession, says Vice Chancellor Ghauth Jasmon
Universiti Malaya (UM) Vice-Chancellor Ghauth Jasmon has shot down suggestions that he is obsessed with the institution’s ranking.
“I am not crazy about rankings, though this is a plus factor and a marketing point to sell to the world. “Some people say that I am crazy about rankings (but) I certainly am not crazy,” he said.
Ghauth (right) was reacting to a Utusan Malaysia report yesterday, quoting the UM Academic Staff Association that the university had slipped into a crisis after 146 of its academic staff resigned, since 2009, in protest against Ghauth’s new academic policies.
Speaking at a press conference at UM today, Ghauth refuted the figures, saying only 76 staff had resigned while another 43 had retired over the period. There were also four deaths among academic staff since 2009.
What is wrong with being obsessed with rankings? It is a magnificent one. THES ranking is an independent evaluation and a useful indicator of how MU stacks against its peers around the world. Yes, it is a selling point. Keep at it Dr. Ghauth and never compromise on standards.
The pursuit of excellence is always a challenging one. One would have thought Professor Azmi Shahrom, the President, MU Academic Staff Association would not play politics. I am wrong.–Din Merican
dinobeano - August 19, 2011 at 2:26 pm
Din,
Regarding Azmi, whom I have great respect for, I would prefer you to hear his side of the story.Don’t prejudge him based on Utusan’s story.If he had actually been correctly quoted in Utusan, then I too will be disappointed with him. Try contacting him.
__________
SamO1, I know Prof. Azmi. he has written to Utusan Malaysia.Too late. But he should know better than to talk to them. I am not prejudging. I am criticizing him for that. The VC has cleared the air.–Din Merican
Sam01 - August 19, 2011 at 3:31 pm
I have read the statement by those who claimed that they represent PKAUM regarding this matter and I only have 2 words for them: good riddance!
You call yourself academicians with a statement like that? Better go dig a hole and stay in it.
didi - August 19, 2011 at 4:04 pm
The VC should not apologize for wanting a class institution through better rankings. If those academics refuse to contribute by doing their required articles in the professional journals, then they are the ones who should apologize and leave the UM and go teach in some sekolah vokasional somewhere… good riddance!
Sentinel - August 19, 2011 at 7:52 pm
The PM said today ” meritocracy breeds medicrity” ha ha the PM getting stupider by the day….
Sentinel - August 19, 2011 at 7:53 pm
Sentinel
No. Mr PM did not say that. I watched him on TV tonight.
He said : ” A system based on 100 percent meritocracy would lead to inequality.
We must think of the rural poor. Meritocracy must be balanced with social justice.
“If there is no meritocracy, we will be nation of mediocracy. “++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Jeff the Man - August 19, 2011 at 10:03 pm
Affirmative action must be for the disadvantaged and not be race-based if we were to have it. Najib is playing the race card at UITM, home to many racists. If you want to see how affirmative action is breeding mediocrity UITM is the best place to observe it. There’s no doubt the facilities are world-class facilities but the teachers and students on the other hand are not.
didi - August 19, 2011 at 11:38 pm
Hi girl-friend
I thought I read you as saying you studied there. How can you berate your alma-mater. I must tell you UITM produced good students. They are more proficient in English than other University students. ITM medium of instruction is English and not Malay like other local varsities. I have many friends there and they do excel.
Jeff the Man - August 19, 2011 at 11:47 pm
I’m saying as it is. I didn’t do my degree there, only the diploma but it’s long enough for me to say that there were many instances that prompt me to think that UITM should be more rigorous in the entrance process. Your friends might be proficient in English but majority of the students aren’t. Even the lecturers aren’t that proficient in English and one even got into an argument with a student just because the student corrected her. Mind you that was an english class.
But English proficiency is not the only problem. It’s the laid-back culture, the culture of non-competitiveness that is the bigger problem. There are smart, competitive students but they are the minorities there.
didi - August 20, 2011 at 1:59 am
My uncle told me that it’s an uphill battle for the VC. Though he might get the support of many UM professors for his mission, it is the voice of the kangkungs that will be loudly heard. My uncle also said that when these kangkungs said that they prefer to have journals in Malay so that Malay will become one of the “language of education” like Japanese or German, it is not out of patriotism. It’s because they can’t write in English to save themselves. They are where they are now is because of their “bodek-ing” skills.
didi - August 20, 2011 at 2:16 am
Jeff
Big fish in small pond. When Big Fish swim to Big pond, Big fish become small fish in Big Pond. Finally when Big Fish swim to Ocean, Big Fish become minnow.
semper fi - August 20, 2011 at 6:11 am
Yes Didi, many of the so-called Prof Kangkungs can’t speak English to save their skin. Can’t even string a sentence together. Only the baby-boomers are fluent.
I have seen them on talk shows. They will begin with: “And then” (in English), blah-blah in BM. Later they continue with “and so” and back to speaking in Malay.”.
To think they have masters from UK and PHDs from America.
Even the people in our Malaysian Students Department are not proficient in English.
But when in comes to issues of the day, they are very quick to offer their opinions. To attract the attention of the political leaders for quick promotion.
Bet you in this UM issue, many profs outside of UM will chip in to put in their two cents worth.
semper fi
Looks like forever we (my generation) will have to say Oh Lord my boat is too small, the sea so wide.
Jeff the Man - August 20, 2011 at 9:50 am
Jeff, not necessary. You’ve proven that you can compete against the best. It’s only those that compete locally will think they are the best. These are the Big Fish I’m referring to. Those that studied overseas and came back enlightened will move Malaysia forward. So the world is now your oyster.
semper fi - August 20, 2011 at 2:42 pm
Those who fear rankings are those who fear excellence and meritocracy. They belong to the class called ” the UMNO Pariah Malays.”.
Mediocrity and Subsidy are their philosophy of life… plus parochial religious beliefs.
Frank - August 20, 2011 at 3:07 pm
Malaysian education systems and the academic standards and innovations of local universities are generally low as they have been politicized with colonial-era roots for too long. Unless and until they are decolonized, they won’t be able to attract talents, resolve brain drains and to achieve true meaning of academic independence with world standards.
We inherent from UK systems. The recent UK riots, airstrikes on former colonies, etc are mirrors for all to rethink and reflect …..
rightways - August 20, 2011 at 5:51 pm
You are right about the MSD people, Jeff. Sometimes I wonder how they were chosen to go to an English-speaking country when they can’t even communicate in English. One officer went to my college few years back and gave a talk. Needless to say, it was very painful to watch him talk. How is it possible for people to have learned English for 11 years in school and still not able to master the language?
didi - August 20, 2011 at 10:15 pm
Rightways and his “blame the westerners” motto again. Don’t you ever get tired?
didi - August 20, 2011 at 10:16 pm
“blame the westerners -didi
NO! blame yourself (colonized by westerners), not “blame the westerners” who colonized you. Even today, they can airstrike, can you do the same?
rightways - August 20, 2011 at 11:29 pm