Although the Higher Education Strategic Plan, as reported in the media, appears to suggest some right moves to improve universities in this country, it contains a number of loopholes as elaborated in the following.

Autonomy

For some time, the academic community has been fighting to restore university autonomy after it was curtailed following the introduction of the University and University Colleges Act and later the 'Akujanji' pledge. The first requirement for an independent and autonomous university is to remove these restrictions on the academic community.

Now the plan promises to give both public and private universities some autonomy, but this appears to be confined only to giving more powers to the university boards of directors to bring about changes, upgrade their institutions and raise funds for research projects.

But university autonomy means more than that. Administrative autonomy is important, but academic autonomy is more important. Unfortunately, there has been hardly any mention of the latter. More and more, the government or ministry has interfered with important academic matters such as determining the period of study and syllabus.

For example, the period of study for a first degree has been reduced from four to three years and then reversed to four years in a very arbitrary manner. The process of determining and introducing the syllabus for Ethnic Relations was controlled almost entirely by the ministry and cabinet although there was token and servile participation by academics. Now with the creation of the Ministry of Higher Studies, there seems to be more interference in university administration, lecturers and students.

The best guarantee for university autonomy, both administrative and academic, is to have a university charter together with University Grants Commission (UGC). The latter has proven to be very successful in guaranteeing university autonomy in a number of countries.

The UGC operates independently of government although it receives grants from the government to be disbursed among the various universities. The commission is also being free to raise additional funds from other sources though each university may carry out its own fund-raising efforts. The UCG, together with the universities' administration and academic communities guard jealously the standards and freedom of the universities and against interference or undue influence from any political and financial interests.

Apex universities

The best universities, or so-called the apex universities, should not be determined by any government-appointed committee. A university becomes the best or achieves excellence as an 'apex university' by virtue of its own performance, especially for research and publications as well as for useful discoveries by its academic staff. Cambridge, Oxford, Harvard and Yale are the apex of excellence not because they were selected by any committee but because they are recognised internationally for their academic achievements.

It is ironic if a government committee decides for a particular university to be the so-called 'apex university' while the international academic community instead tacitly recognises another university to be the excellent one.

Vice-chancellors

It is gratifying to hear that the vice-chancellors will now be selected by the universities themselves. But at the same time, the prime minister reminds that such a selection will not depend entirely on internal academic promotion, but that instead universities should look for talents outside their own community.

In the past, there have been many cases of vice-chancellors being selected although they lack both academic and administrative merits and simply because of their political posturing. Some of these vice-chancellors were more interested in becoming 'policemen' against students or to butter up ministers in order to ensure extension of tenure.

There must be a credible and independent body to search for the best candidates to become vice- chancellors in the form of the Search Committee of the past, which comprised respectable academics, graduates (alumni) and other members of the public. Candidates from all ethnic groups should be considered and, if appropriate, appointed.

There are already three women who are vice-chancellors now, but not a single non-Malay either male or female. If I am not mistaken, neither is there a non-Malay deputy vice-chancellor too. A third of all vice-chancellors and deputy vice-chancellors should non-Malays of high academic and administrative merit. Vice-chancellors who are respected by their lecturers and students for their merit and ability will be able to lead the universities to greater heights.

Academic promotions

Academic promotions to senior positions, especially professorship and associate professorships should be strictly on an academic basis without any political or administrative influence or interference. Factors that should be taken into consideration are conscientiousness in and quality of teaching, quality of research as well as their importance or impact and quality and quality of publications especially those that are significant and often referred to. Professors and associate professors must also be competent in supervising post-graduate candidates and leading research work

The selection board, chaired by the vice-chancellor, should be made up of, among others, at least two senior academic members elected by the Senate and all professors (if they have not been selected by the VC to be in the Senate).

In the past, some universities, following the practice of many well-established universities, appointed three External Examiners, sometimes from three different continents, to assess the suitability of applicants for professorship. This practice should be followed. Because a professorship is hard to earn, it should be accompanied with an appropriate salary applicable to both foreigners and locals.

First-class training

Besides good academic staff, there are other requirements for achieving a first-class university. One of them is to have high-quality students. This should be largely determined at the school level. At present, learning at that level is almost by rote, and independent and critical minds are not encouraged. Even at the university level, a critical and creative mind is not encouraged or nurtured. Instead there are all kinds of rules, particularly relating to the University and University Colleges Act that stunts the minds of students.

In conclusion, it is unfortunate that there was no invitation to university lecturers, students and members of the community at large to contribute their views before the Higher Education Strategic Plan was announced by the prime minister. Here is another example of the government always wanting to impose its wishes from the top down. Had there been public consultation, deficiencies could be avoided and he plan would have been more acceptable.

DR SYED HUSIN ALI, a former professor of sociology at Universiti Malaya, is PKR deputy president.