Thumbs Up To "University Incorporated"

Here is an article that I wrote and was published in The Star, a local Malaysian daily newspaper on Monday, February 19, 1996.

The quality of education in local universities had been much talked about over the past decade. Much had been said about the quality of local graduates which can be improved with proper commitment, planning and funding.

With these in mind, the Government has taken steps to overcome problems inherent in local universities by introducing the concept of corporatising the universities.

I support this move.

Firstly, the inevitably higher fees imposed will inject much needed funds into the universities' coffers. This will help upgrade many facilities found wanting and make available the non-existent ones.

More experienced and effective lecturers and researchers can be brought in to improve education and research. However high the fees will increase, they will still be lower than most places in the world.

Secondly, when the universities have already acquired the required expertise in education and, particularly, research, both local and foreign companies will be more willing to sponsor research in the infinite field of knowledge and, perhaps, "go where no man has gone before".

Thirdly, when the quality of local universities has improved, the Government need not send too many students overseas in search of quality education. Parents will also not hesitate to send their children to local universities. When this happens, the increased competition for places will result in higher quality applicants being accepted and educated.

Furthermore, more universities should be built to absorb the demand for tertiary education. When this has been achieved, the Government can greatly reduce the number of students being sent overseas, thus saving funds.

Let's support the idea of "University Incorporated"!

It has been almost a decade since I had this article published. The fees of local universities may have risen, but the same could not be said about the quality of local graduates. At this point of time, many Malaysian graduates are unemployed. Some cannot get employment simply because they lack communication skills and the ability to speak English well. Something has to be done by all concerned parties before this sad situation gets out of hand.