by Dr. Chen Man Hin
AN OPEN LETTER TO UiTM VICE CHANCELLOR , DATUK SERI PROF IBRAHIM ABU SHAH
UiTM VICE CHANCELLOR SHOULD THANK MB KHALID FOR GIVING HONEST, SINCERE ADVICE TO IMPROVE STANDARDS.
The whole country is aware that the standards of institutions of higher studies are quite low when compared to international universities in developed countries.
Thousands graduate every year, but not all can find jobs because prospective employers are not impressed by the quality of the graduates, and they are passed over. Not many have the qualification to go for post-graduate studies.
If it is any comfort to UiTM vice chancellor, well established universities like Universiti Malaya, UKM, USM have also been found wanting by world ranking bodies like the Times Higher Education Supplement (THES) and Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
In an examination of the world ranking of Malaysian universities by Times Higher Education Supplement Top Universities 2007, Universiti Malaya was ranked 246 and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) ranked 364.
In the academic ranking of World Universities 2008 by Shanghai Jiao Tong University, not a single Malaysian university achieved ranking among the survey of 503 universities.
For the Asia Pacific Universities ranking of top 100 universities, no Malaysian university was listed
A ranking of South East Asia universities by CYBERMETRICS LAB (2008) ranked Universiti Sains Malaysia 15; Multimedia University 17; Universiti Putra Malaysia 18; Universiti Kebangsan 21; Universiti Malaya 22; Universiti Utara Malaysia 35; Universiti Teknologi Mara 39; Universiti Malaysia Sabah 66; Universiti Tenaga Nasional 67; Universiti Teknologi Petronas 76; Universiti Malaysia Sarawak 79.
GLOBAL RANKING (CYBERMETRICS LAB) 2008. Universiti Sains Malaysia 1065; Universiti Teknologi Malaysia 1087; Multimedia Universiti 1155; Universiti Kebangsan 1357; University of Malaya 1381; International Islamic Universiti Malaysia 1709; Universiti Utara 1997; UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA 2022; Universiti Malaysia Sabah 3316;Universiti Teknologi Petronas 3636; Universiti Malaysia Sarawak 3721;Universiti Malaysia Perlis 3968.
It is obvious that universities in malaysia are ranked poorly when compared with other universities in other countries. There is no argument about this.
Under such circumstances sniping between the MB of Selangor and UiTM is not constructive. Advice and criticisms should be received with open arms, as the objective is the same – to raise academic standards in the universities including UiTM. It would be in the interest of UiTM to adopt an open policy. The more friends you have, the better
Tan Sri Khalid’s suggestion to have an intake of 10% of non-bumiputras by UiTM is a sound proposal, as Malaysia is a multiracial country. it is in line with government policy of having different races in an educational institution to promote harmony and unity.