tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post115820713273514409..comments2024-03-21T20:10:28.943+08:00Comments on EDUCATION IN MALAYSIA: Budget 2007 (III): Quantity vs QualityUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post-1158736933142523882006-09-20T15:22:00.000+08:002006-09-20T15:22:00.000+08:00Hey Rajan,UniSIM is like Open University Malaysia ...Hey Rajan,<BR/><BR/>UniSIM is like Open University Malaysia which focuses on working adults. I've not included such universities in the calculation for they serve a different purpose. We will also soon have Universiti Wawasan.<BR/><BR/>I've also not taken into consideration branch campuses of foreign universities. Malaysia have 3 at this point of time and there are more to come.<BR/><BR/>Hence, irrespective of inclusion or exclusion of the above universities, the argument stands.<BR/><BR/>I am certain that the Singaporeans will disagree with you that the NUS/NTU or SMU are not targeted at the "average" undergraduates. Targeting the average undergrads is not mutually exclusive to creating elite universities. The proportionate number of undergrads to the population is not significantly different between the two countries.<BR/><BR/>And I would completely disagree with you that most graduates in Singapore are *not* from the local universities. Most *absolutely* are.<BR/><BR/>Tony PGolf Afflictedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16363347839543221577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post-1158735823598951292006-09-20T15:03:00.000+08:002006-09-20T15:03:00.000+08:00On Singapore, Singapore currently have four univer...On Singapore, Singapore currently have <I>four</I> universities - including UniSIM. In addition to that, next year, that number would be <I>five</I> universities (UNSW Asia).<BR/><BR/>Secondly, in Singapore, the goals is vastly different and may not be appropriate for Malaysia - the local universities there have a goal to be elite universities, not universities educating the average undergraduate.<BR/><BR/>No developed country ever depended solely on elite universities - take Singapore, for example - most graduates are *not* from local universities.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post-1158294239879355552006-09-15T12:23:00.000+08:002006-09-15T12:23:00.000+08:00My advice is ..." No point flogging a dead horse"M...My advice is ...<BR/>" No point flogging a dead horse"<BR/><BR/>Meaning no matter how or what we try, it comes to no point as our government is bent on its mission and would not listen to us..<BR/>They more reasons to listen to the rakyat and how they fare at the ballot boxes...intellectuals like us are just a few irritating flies on the buffalo's hide..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post-1158293406680393942006-09-15T12:10:00.000+08:002006-09-15T12:10:00.000+08:00Comparing Malaysia to Singapore is like comparing ...Comparing Malaysia to Singapore is like comparing apples and oranges. <BR/><BR/>Singapore's mission is to have institutions of higher learning that produces competent graduates for the industry.<BR/><BR/>Malaysia's mission is to produce enough graduates to fulfill its social responsibility to the people. I believe that is why more universities are being built in Terenganu and Kelantan. <BR/><BR/>Because of this, it is impossible to reverse the trend. It is political suicide for any politician to convince the rakyat saying: "we have limited resources, only a select few can pursue a degree." <BR/><BR/>Instead, a possibility would be to say: "Two universities (i.e. UM & USM) will obtain 5 times more in funds compared to all other universities (on a per student basis). Number of available sits elsewhere are still available and would not increase. These two would be the best and university entrance is by PURE merit. Competition for better students and prestige between the two universities would help improve quality".<BR/><BR/>With better resources and motivation, the other ingredient sorely lacking is leadership.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post-1158287855212671592006-09-15T10:37:00.000+08:002006-09-15T10:37:00.000+08:00The truth is Malaysian government has never been a...The truth is Malaysian government has never been any good at making anything quality. Think about it, went it comes to GLCs, there are many with not really a single one being of world-class standards. In attracting FDI, everything is also quantity not really quality. Buidling infrastructure. Lets take our highways and our pride and joy - NS highway - have you looked at it lately, its pretty crappy already with 33 years more to go in its concession. Lets take buildings - now many government and government-linked buildings are really well-maintained. If you look around Putrajaya office including the PM office, a keen eye will tell you there are already things breaking down and shoddy work showing up. Same thing with KLCC.<BR/><BR/>Malaysian government idea of making quality is to create quantity with the luck that quality will come out of it somehow and claim it as their own. Sheer luck anything great comes out of it. That is the Malaysian government way of making quality. <BR/><BR/>The only people that has a track record of quality is the private sector particularly non-bumiputera institutions and individuals. If there is hope to be quality in education, it lies there not in public ones...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post-1158216719598863722006-09-14T14:51:00.000+08:002006-09-14T14:51:00.000+08:00..Tony's well thought analytical post above could .....Tony's well thought analytical post above could only infer a possible conclusion that because the country is declining academically, then it is not going to be able to advance much in the corporate world on a global basis.<BR/><BR/>Yet there is a heroic proposal in the recent budget that the country’s central bank would provide one billion RM for the EXIM Bank to extend loans to entrepreneurs investing abroad.<BR/><BR/>It’s strange that the authorities would want to talk about promoting loads RM investments abroad when they can’t even develop & promote properly and more generously the academic std. and quality of universities locally. <BR/><BR/>The fact that the premier local university is not ranked internationally, obviously the country cannot boast of any good business school..to provide good quality professional training to the local executives.<BR/><BR/>It's a big daydream then to talk about how prosperous and great an economy the country wants to grow into..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12123329.post-1158211978203257662006-09-14T13:32:00.000+08:002006-09-14T13:32:00.000+08:00Tony said, "to show that it is recognising that it...Tony said, "to show that it is recognising that its policy has resulted in creating degree factories producing many substandard products".<BR/><BR/>To show something, you must begin to realise that something. The incessant increase in the number of universities and colleges cannot give any one at all the impression that our government is anywhere near that realisation. I also noticed the curious acronym for the proposed university in Terengganu - Universiti DIM. Goodness.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com