4 Designated as Research Universities

It was reported here and here that the following 4 research universities - USM, UPM, UM and UKM - will be designated as research universities. One of the perks of such a designation is an additional 100million RM for each university for research, development and commercialisation activities.

I think that this is a good move on the part of the MOHE. It is a sensible compromise between focusing a large proportion of government funds and resources on just ONE university and spreading out the cake to ALL public universities in the country. It would have been unfair, not to mention risky, to put most of our resources into just ONE university, especially given that it would be hard to choose between UM, USM or UKM, arguable the top 3 public universities in Malaysia, in my opinion. (I'm a little more agnostic about UPM) It would also have diluted our resources if our hard earned tax dollars were to have been spread out over the 18 public universities in our country.

Directing these resources to the 4 designated research universities is certainly a better use of public funds compared to the purported RM500 million that supposed to be heading Cambridge's way.

Does this mean that the other public universities such as UUM, UNIMAS and UITM will be left out and left behind? Yes and no. Yes because these public universities won't be receiving the RM100 million that the other 4 research universities will be getting. No, because there are other ways in which these universities can continue to seek funding. IRPA grants which are research grants given out by MOSTI (Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation) are open to to all academics in public universities. Perhaps, this will force some of the universities which have been left out to seek alternative private sources of funding including companies and wealthy benefactors and alumnus.

Tok Pa seems to be following a focused and consistent approach towards rebuilding our public universities. While throwing research money will not necessarily reverse the trend of declining standards at our public universities, my hope is that the other steps taken by Tok Pa, the MOHE and the VCs will together, arrest this declining trend. Only time will tell.