Omar Abdul Rahman, who was former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s science adviser for 16 years., asked: “What use is a good research paper if it isn’t able to impact the public and create changes through its findings?”
Omar said he had been talking about the need for universities to redefine their role in society since 2010 and that he had even suggested universities be called transformational universities (TU).
“Not many were able to grasp the idea that I had then but I haven’t given up. More so today because the country is in need of this understanding, especially with everything that is happening around us today.
“Why be called transformational universities? It is time these universities shift their focus from merely producing academics and well-researched papers to laying emphasis on how their research can be applied to influence socio-economic transformation,” said Omar in an interview with FMT.
Omar explained that the term transformational university simply meant that universities should contribute to national development or socio-economic transformation.
This could be done through their normal activities – such as teaching, research, development and consulting, community outreach, advocacy or advice to the government, and international collaboration.
For a start, the universities must build on students’ attributes, or the 6Cs: competence, critical thinking, civic nationalism, communication, collaboration and creativity.
Through community outreach, they could encourage the promotion of civility, good citizenship and a healthy lifestyle.
Omar proposed that the government adopt a new annual TU ranking for universities.
He suggested that the higher education ministry consider a form of incentive by tying government funding to such rankings.
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/business/2014/02/25/govt-to-continue-funding-public-research-universities/