The report on the study titled “The History of University Autonomy in Malaysia”, released on June 20, also states that even private universities which do not receive financial support from the government are subjected to “extra-legal” requirements.
IDEAS chief executive Wan Saiful Wan Jan said the report puts into question the government’s determination in ensuring autonomy for the country’s institutions of higher learning.
In a statement today, he said 17 of the 20 public universities have thus far been awarded autonomous status.
“However, we need to ask whether this is just rhetoric, or if there is an actual commitment to devolve more powers to universities,” he said.
“If we are serious about giving our universities freedom, we need to take stronger measures so that our universities are properly autonomous.”
Wan Saiful said he recommended that the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) 1971 be abolished, or at the very least amended, so that the institutions are fully self-governed.
The study, conducted by Chang-Da Wan of Universiti Sains Malaysia’s (USM) National Higher Education Research Institute (IPPTN), traces the historical developments which have led to the current state of university autonomy in Malaysia.
Chang found that although autonomous public universities are recognised as federal statutory bodies, they are still required to comply with the same framework of governance as the civil service in terms of salary scale, promotion criteria and procedures.
“In other words, they still do not have proper autonomy in practice,” Wan Saiful said.
“Universities do not have full control over how to allocate funds and research grants. They also need to adhere to the procurement and financial procedures laid out by the finance ministry and treasury. Their freedom is still restricted.”
He added that private universities also needed to comply with “extra-legal” administrative circulars, directives and schemes.
Malaysian universities, including the government ones, were fully autonomous in the past, he said.
“For example, from 1962 to 1971, Universiti Malaya (UM) was self-governed under its own constitution and it was even led by individuals who were politically and ideologically against the government,” he said.
“At that time, appointment was based on merit, not politics.
“It is a pity that soon after that, the government sought for tighter control over the universities through the enactment of UUCA in 1971.”
Wan Saiful said further amendments to the UUCA have since removed more elements of autonomy.
He said university leaders were no longer democratically elected but were instead directly appointed by the government, while academic representatives were significantly reduced in the governance of universities.
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2015/04/02/more-autonomy-for-universities/
Govt must take hands-off approach if varsities are to thrive