The Ministry of Higher Education recognises the importance of producing holistic, entrepreneurial and balanced graduates as stipulated in Shift 1 of our Higher Education Blueprint 2015-2025. This encompasses producing graduates who are innovative and able to drive R&D.
Ten years ago the ministry introduced the research universities (RU) initiative to enculture R&D and accelerate its growth. We are now reaping the benefits as the five RUs have recorded an increase in postgraduate students (masters and PhDs) whose focus are on R&D. There were also increases in publications and citations (594% according to Thomson Reuters), international collaborations, patents filed and more. To date, the ministry has recorded over 28% in return of research investments from the RU initiative – a positive yield from the commercialisation of ideas and research products.
The ministry has also introduced the integrated cumulative grade point average (iCGPA) initiative in 2015 which not only assesses students’ knowledge, but also their problem solving, information management, and entrepreneurial skills. The iCGPA is the first of its kind in the world and is being implemented in 20 public universities encompassing over 350 programmes.
On innovation, Malaysia is proud to have produced many graduates who are innovative. Among them are Joel Neoh, a graduate from Monash University Malaysia, who is involved with Groupon Malaysia and Catcha Media. There is also Noorain Mohd Said, a University of Malaya chemistry graduate who applied her knowledge to innovate organic body care products earning her millions while still studying.
At Universiti Tenaga Nasional, a group of students created a car-sharing application to help ease traffic congestion while at the Multimedia University a software that recognises locations based on pictures of buildings was developed. These are just some examples to show the innovative mindset of Malaysian students.
On the brain drain issue, we thank Perkins for acknowledging that Malaysians are sought after by overseas universities and for employment.
The government recognises the challenges of brain drain, which is a worldwide phenomenon. But on the flip side, there is also brain gain.
In 2015, World Bank lead economist Truman G. Packard said “many talented Malaysians come home after being based abroad, which brings many benefits for the country.”
The bank suggested that brain drain is not a major concern and that Malaysia’s efforts to bring experienced Malaysians home were on the right track.
On the nature of Malaysian universities where presidencies are picked by the government, the issue of autonomy in higher education has been long debated. In the Higher Education Blueprint, autonomy is addressed and the ministry recognises that it must move from “tight controller” to “regulator and policymaker”.
Currently, the powers to appoint key public university posts are legally vested in the minister, nevertheless the appointment process is thorough:
(i) the board and academic associations can nominate candidates and give their views to the minister;
(ii) the ministry has a selection committee of eminent persons who advise the minister; and
(iii) the Higher Education Leadership Academy profiles the candidates.
Source: http://www.thesundaily.my/news/2017/09/10/ministry-track-rd-graduates
