LOS TEROPONG

Was invited to a Luncheon Talk at Equatorial Hotel, Penang on the 25th August 2005. The lunch was in conjunction with the meeting of the Committee of Vice Chancellors/Rectors of the Public Universities in Malaysia, hosted by the Universiti Sains Malaysia and the talk on, 'Preparing Universities for the Future', was delivered by Professor Luc E. Weber, former Rector/President of the University of Geneva.

LUC E. WEBER is a full professor of public economics at the University of Geneva and an international expert on higher education for the World Bank, the Council of Europe, the European Association of Universities, the Confederation of EU Rectors' Conferences and the International Association of Universities.

There was a lot of ground covered, among others, the autonomy of a (public) university and its capability face globalisation and the democratisation (this is really an old but persisting topic) of education. There is also this restraining component when public universities are merely performing 'public services' and on the other hand trying to produce Nobel laurettes. Not a balanced equation, believe me.

I asked him a question. Prof. Weber, in your vast experience and your opinion, should the Ministry of Higher Education be headed by a politician or one of the Vice-Chancellors?

He related that in the past (in Europe), Universities and Vice-Chancellors were highly regarded and even held Ministerial posts but now they are 'normal' human beings. Btw, the Minister of Education of Hong Kong is a Professor.

Come to think of it, why can't the Minster of Higher Education of Malaysia be one of the VCs of the public universities? They can hold the post for 3 years and rotate among the VCs, just like the Sultans taking turns to be the Agong. Who better can handle Higher Education than the VCs. Since we have split the Ministry into two, with one in charge of primary, secondary and teacher education and the other in charge of tertiary education, let the politician handle the former and one of the VCs handle the letter. Sounds good?

They will know what it takes to be a research university, a world-class university, a postgraduate university, an open university and NOT politicise the whole issue. They will also know, REALLY how much is needed to do certain things, and will probably have the b**** to say that, if you want this, give us the money or don't talk so much. They will know how to integrate the findings in a university (funded by public money) into the community and not be bogged down by other agencies obstructing such endeavours when they themselves are not doing their job properly. Hey, I believe this can work. Perhaps the Committee of Vice-Chancellors should put that in their agenda. Aiyaa, tak tau lah ...