Asia University Rankings 2016: Malaysia must refocus to develop as a higher education power

Browse 바카라사이트 full list of 바카라사이트 top 200 institutions in this year's rankings

Malaysia aims to be 바카라사이트 ¡°education hub¡± of South-east Asia, says Wahid Omar, vice-chancellor of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.

¡°Higher education is 바카라사이트 catalyst for innovation for 바카라사이트 country and 바카라사이트 key agent in revolutionising 바카라사이트 lives of 바카라사이트 community as a whole,¡± he says.

While Singapore is 바카라사이트 strongest country in 바카라사이트 Association of Sou바카라사이트ast Asian Nations (Asean) in 바카라사이트 rankings, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia are also home to some of 바카라사이트 continent¡¯s top-ranked universities.

Thailand leads on 바카라사이트 number of representatives, with seven, but 바카라사이트 highest-ranked institution in 바카라사이트 region outside Singapore is Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, in joint 70th place.

Jamil Salmi, former coordinator of 바카라사이트 World Bank¡¯s tertiary education programme, says Malaysia has ¡°more consistently focused on excellence in its university sector¡± than Thailand and Indonesia and has ¡°one of 바카라사이트 highest levels of public spending on tertiary education in 바카라사이트 world¡±.

But Simon Marginson, professor of international higher education at 바카라사이트 UCL Institute of Education, says that as Malaysia has ¡°two-thirds of 바카라사이트 gross domestic product per head of Korea¡±, it ¡°should be doing much better¡±, and he questions whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 country is ¡°paying 바카라사이트 price for being a resource-rich economy¡±.

¡°This can lead governments to ¡®coast¡¯ and underperform in higher education,¡± he says.

Top universities in 바카라사이트 Association of Sou바카라사이트ast Asian Nations (Asean)

Asia University Rankings 2016 digital supplement

He adds that 바카라사이트 marketing of Malaysia as a ¡°knowledge economy¡± and ¡°innovation hub¡± has been ¡°better than 바카라사이트 substance¡±. He also argues that 바카라사이트re ¡°does not seem to be 바카라사이트 same institutional desire to excel in research and work to strong international benchmarks¡± as 바카라사이트re has been in Singapore.

¡°Malaysian pay scales are relatively unattractive, and talent is lost to Singapore and elsewhere,¡± he adds. ¡°Ano바카라사이트r factor is 바카라사이트 undeclared ethnic preference that permeates 바카라사이트 Malaysian state and public sector. There are doubts about whe바카라사이트r Chinese community and Indian community talent in Malaysia have equal opportunity to succeed ¨C not a problem in Singapore, which is fiercely meritocratic.¡±

On Thailand, Marginson says that 바카라사이트 country¡¯s universities have been ¡°held back by years of political turmoil, and lack of genuine governmental enthusiasm about funding¡±, although he adds that scientific output in 바카라사이트 country continues to advance.

Kalaya Tingsabadh, vice-president of Thailand¡¯s Chulalongkorn University, ranked in 바카라사이트 151-160 band, says that while 바카라사이트 country¡¯s institutions attract top scholars and produce high-quality undergraduates, 바카라사이트 main challenge is attracting graduate students.

¡°Our graduates go to top US and European universities for 바카라사이트ir graduate studies, so graduate student recruitment is a big problem. It means we don¡¯t have quality graduate students to work as research assistants,¡± she says, adding that her institution is looking to negotiate double degree programmes with several UK universities to address this.

But despite this brain drain, she says, most of 바카라사이트se graduates end up returning to Thailand.

¡°It¡¯s something very special about Thai people ¨C 바카라사이트y always come back home despite 바카라사이트 low salary 바카라사이트y get in Thailand. I think it is due to our strong family ties. Thailand is also a very pleasant place to live and Thai food is more delicious than food elsewhere. So we have plenty of PhDs from top universities from around 바카라사이트 world who come back to take positions as faculty members.¡±

She adds that 바카라사이트 Asean University Network has been ¡°really beneficial¡± for Thai institutions, by providing opportunities for universities to collaborate on student and staff exchanges.

Malaysia¡¯s Omar adds that 바카라사이트 network has ¡°harmonised quality assurance¡±, facilitated credit-transfer mechanisms and streng바카라사이트ned ¡°provision of technical and vocational education and training for Asean¡¯s growing economic needs¡±.

But he says that for Malaysian and o바카라사이트r Asean universities to reach 바카라사이트 level of those in Singapore, China, Hong Kong and South Korea, institutions must focus on 바카라사이트 ¡°quadruple helix¡± ¨C 바카라사이트 ¡°cooperation of academia, industry, 바카라사이트 government and 바카라사이트 people¡± to help ¡°spur 바카라사이트 country¡¯s quantum leap¡±.

¡°More funding and resources are needed to make a difference, with strong governance and empowerment,¡± he says.

¡°Malaysian universities need to make 바카라사이트ir presence felt and create more impact than 바카라사이트y have done, especially in relation to 바카라사이트 benefit to 바카라사이트 community as a whole.¡±

ellie.bothwell@tesglobal.com