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

[Harold Schiffman]

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.

A minimum qualification of Band Four in the Malaysian University
English Test (MUET) should be required for admission into
universities, said Universiti Sains Malaysia lecturer Muhammad Kamarul
Kabilan.

Prof Isarji said that there was a mismatch between the language used
in the education system and that in industry.

"In primary and secondary schools, students are taught in Bahasa
Malaysia. They then use a mix of both languages when they are at
university.

"However, when they come out to work, they have to speak English," he observed.

"You can't expect people to speak a chicken language if you have
always taught them the duck language," he quipped.

His research suggested that more English Language programmes need to
be implemented at varsity level to help students achieve competency
before they graduate.

Another research study, English Language Test for Academic Staff:
Results and Recommendations, examined the standard of English among
randomly-selected staff from 11 universities and found that the
majority of lecturers were weak in reading and writing.

Besides English, other aspects addressed were entrepreneurship
education, industry partnerships, universities engaging with the
community and internationalisation.

Proposals arising from the studies included adopting different methods
of teaching entrepreneurial studies, experiential and problem-based
learning, and long-term community programmes to meet societal needs
and engage students.

Dr Zulkefli highlighted the government's efforts to improve the
quality of graduates and tertiary institutions through measures such
as giving financial autonomy to universities.

"We're looking at revising some provisions in the Financial Procedure
Act 1957, as right now, it is not conducive for autonomy," he said.

"With financial autonomy, universities will have the flexibility to
determine what is important and to transfer funds from one area to
another, according to their needs."

To make graduates employable, the soft skills and entrepreneurship
module, worth two credit hours each, have been made compulsory in
public universities, said Dr Zulkefli, adding that he hoped private
institutions would follow suit.

"Currently, this is only in our public universities, but I think
private universities should adopt, and adapt the module, if
necessary."

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