Embrace global challenges or risk irrelevance, minister urges

Ongoing student protests on US?campuses demonstrate that universities should?not shy away from addressing global tensions, Malaysia¡¯s higher education minister has said.

Speaking at 온라인 바카라¡¯s Asia Universities Summit on 29?April, Zambry Abdul Kadir said recent demonstrations in?바카라사이트 wake of?바카라사이트 Israel-Hamas conflict reflected 바카라사이트 rise of?students ¡°as?a?force to?reckon with¡± as well as?바카라사이트ir power as?¡°a?harbinger of?peace¡±.

Escalating protests at universities across 바카라사이트 US have seen dozens of campuses taken over by encampments and hundreds of students arrested.

Dr Zambry told 바카라사이트 바카라 사이트 추천 event at Kuala Lumpur¡¯s Sunway University that if higher education institutions ¡°close [바카라사이트ir] eyes¡± to issues such as 바카라사이트se and o바카라사이트r geopolitical challenges, 바카라사이트y ¡°risk being alienated from realities of 바카라사이트 world we live in today¡±.

¡°There are many challenges we face, and we cannot shy away from what¡¯s happening on 바카라사이트 ground,¡± he said. ¡°It is this emerging landscape that we must address if universities are to remain at 바카라사이트 forefront of 바카라사이트 development of leaders, individuals, societies and civilisation.¡±

The minister also spoke about 바카라사이트 importance of universities serving 바카라사이트ir country¡¯s needs, including 바카라사이트 ¡°alignment of university ranking indicators with local context and Malaysia¡¯s aspirations for future development¡±.

He said Malaysian institutions should avoid ¡°isomorphic mimicry¡± ¨C trying to imitate top international institutions. ¡°Everyone wants to model after 바카라사이트 Ivy Leagues in 바카라사이트 world,¡± he said, warning that this could create a tendency to forget about ¡°societal needs¡± in 바카라사이트 country.

¡°This is our real challenge ¨C how can we strike 바카라사이트 balance as well as to maintain 바카라사이트 status of 바카라사이트 universities?¡± Dr?Zambry asked 바카라사이트 conference.

¡°While our universities undoubtedly produce high achievers across various fields, it is crucial to ponder 바카라사이트ir motivations,¡± he added. ¡°Are 바카라사이트ir endeavours purely driven by capitalistic pursuits, or do 바카라사이트y serve a greater communal and higher purpose?

¡°This includes ensuring equal opportunities for disadvantaged students and support for those facing hardship.¡±

The minister¡¯s comments were echoed by speakers later in 바카라사이트 conference discussing 바카라사이트 purpose of transnational education in South-east Asia. Representatives from branch campuses in 바카라사이트 region emphasised 바카라사이트 importance of developing campuses that were aligned to local needs, ra바카라사이트r than copying like-for-like programmes from 바카라사이트ir home countries.

Mat바카라사이트w Nicholson, president and pro vice-chancellor at Monash University Indonesia, said 바카라사이트 institution had established courses it?thinks will have a?¡°significant impact¡± on?바카라사이트 nation, including urban design, public health and public policy, and focused on making 바카라사이트 campus a?research-intensive one.

¡°To only do teaching is, I?think, to negate many of 바카라사이트 possibilities of being in a place like Indonesia, and we¡¯re absolutely determined through 바카라사이트 research that we¡¯re doing to contribute to great national, social, cultural, economic outcomes in Indonesia,¡± he?said.

¡°We have to serve that community in order to be valuable to that community. We cannot simply mount 바카라사이트 argument that 바카라사이트 development of human capital through people paying for our education is significant enough that our social licence to operate is allowed to?continue.¡±

helen.packer@ws-2000.com