Malaysia: Proposals from researchers may be incorporated into education policies.

[Francis Hult]

Via lgpolicy...
 

Research is key

By SARAH CHEW

Proposals from researchers may be incorporated into education
policies. RESEARCH has been the word of the season in education
circles, together with others such as "world class universities" and
"excellence". The Higher Education Ministry put talk into action by
organising the Enhancing the Quality of Higher Education Through
Research: Shaping Future Policy seminar last Tuesday. Dr Zulkefli
(centre) holding a publication of the research papers presented while
Higher Education Ministry deputy director-general Datuk Prof Mohd
Yusof Kasim (left) and Planning and Research Division under-secretary
Dr Ramli Hasan look on.  The seminar showcased academic research
funded by grants given by the ministry's Research and Planning
Division. These grants were part of the RM200mil allocated under the
government's Fundamental Research Grant Scheme.

Seven research papers touching on various issues confronting tertiary
institutions were presented at the seminar that was attended by about
400 academic staff, students, government officials and corporate
sector leaders. The ministry's secretary general Dr Zulkefli A. Hassan
believed that proposals arising from the research could be
incorporated into future policy. "The research topics of this seminar
contain many good recommendations that can enhance the quality of our
higher education institutions," said Dr Zulkefli, at the launch. Three
of the presentations focused on English language proficiency.

A study entitled The English Language Proficiency of Malaysian Public
University Students, presented by International Islamic University
Malaysia (IIUM) dean of English, Assoc Prof Dr Isarji Sarudin, found
that out of a sample of 405 students from six universities who took
the English Proficiency Test used by IIUM for admitting students, a
majority were limited users of English, at Band Four. "Only 10.9% of
students were in Band Six and Seven - the equivalent of the
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Band Six - which
is the minimum language requirement to enrol in credit-bearing courses
in English medium universities overseas and in IIUM," said Prof
Isarji. Another study entitled The University Curriculum and
Unemployment of Graduates confirmed these findings. It pointed out
that employers interviewed felt most local graduates were not
confident about communicating in English even if they had excellent
results.

Full story:
http://thestar.com.my/education/story.asp?file=/2008/3/2/education/20470408


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