Forum: Education for Development?

UWN: Success of blueprint depends on buy-in and politics

http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=2015060214590283

The  Malaysia Education Blueprint (Higher Education) 2015-2025 provides a comprehensive articulation of the goals for Malaysian higher education in the form of student and system aspirations. The 10 key areas highlight issues that are critical to the development of individuals as well as the ecosystem of higher education. 

UWN: Political will, planning behind rapid rise in research

http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20150529080547140

Malaysia’s research achievements and challenges were outlined by Professor Zakri Abdul Hamid, science adviser to the prime minister and one of 26 members of United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s scientific advisory board, at a major conference in Johannesburg from 10-14 May co-hosted by the Association of Commonwealth Universities and the Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association.

Kenyataan media GERAK

PERGERAKAN TENAGA AKADEMIK MALAYSIA (GERAK)

MALAYSIAN ACADEMICS MOVEMENT (MOVE)

KENYATAAN MEDIA

16 Mei 2015

GERAK merasa resah akan pembatalan tiga forum di universiti dalam tempuh tiga minggu. Forum-forum tersebut adalah:

1) The Great Debate Series 2: Everything in Moderation - Ways of Living Together, pada 29 April 2015 di UIAM

2) Forum Industri penerbitan buku pada 13 May 2015 di UM

3) Forum Goods and Service Tax (GST), pada 13 May 2015 di UIAM

Pembatalan forum pada saat akhir merupakan satu perlakuan yang tidak bijak. Lagi tidak bijak adalah apabila satu dari forum tersebut tersebut telah diganggu. Nyata sekali ini merupakan perlanggaran hak kebebasan akademik yang patut wujud di dalam sebuah kampus universiti, seperti yang disyaratkan dalam 'Recommendation concerning the status of Higher Education Teaching Personnel'. Recommendation ini telah diluluskan semasa perhimpunan umum UNESCO pada 11 November 1997. Sebagai ahli UNESCO, Malaysia dikehendaki melaksanakan Recommendation ini, Pada peringkat antarabangsa, reputasi dan prestasi sesebuah universiti adalah diukur dari tahap keakuran dengan Recommendation ini.

GERAK mengesa dihentikan kegiatan membatalkan sesuatu aktiviti akademik setelah kelulusan diberi. Ianya akan mematikan usaha untuk meningkatkan univesiti-universiti ke tahap dunia. Malah kelulusan tidak patut diperlukan untuk mana-mana aktiviti akademik. Semua forum-forum yang telah dibatalkan mesti diadakan semula di universiti-universiti berkenaan.

GERAK is troubled by the cancellation of three university fora in the last three weeks. The three fora are:

1) The Great Debate Series 2: Everything in Moderation - Ways of Living Together, on 29 April 2015 at IIUM

2) Forum on book publishing industry, on 13 May 2015 at UM

3) Forum on Goods and Service Tax (GST), on 13 May 2015 at IIUM

The cancellation at the eleventh hour of the fora is not a wise decision. What is worse is the harassment at one of the fora. This is a clear abuse of the academic freedom right that should have existed in all university campuses as required in the 'Recommendation concerning the status of Higher Education Teaching Personnel'. This Recommendation was approved by the UNESCO general assembly on 11 November 1997. As a member of UNESCO, Malaysia is required to implement this Recommendation. At the international level, the reputation and performance of a university is measured from the level of compliance with this recommendation.

GERAK urged that academic activities should not be cancelled after prior approval has been given. It would discourage all effort to push our universities to be world class universities. In fact, approval should be required for any academics activity. All the cancelled fora must be reconvened at the affected universities.      

Bagi pihak GERAK,

ROSLI H MAHAT

Setiausaha Agung

Pergerakan Tenaga Akademik Malaysia (GERAK)

akademikmalaysia@gmail.com                             

NATURE: Rana Dajani: Why I teach evolution to Muslim students

http://www.nature.com/news/why-i-teach-evolution-to-muslim-students-1.17364?WT.ec_id=NEWS-20150423

Encouraging students to challenge ideas is crucial to fostering a generation of Muslim scientists who are free thinkers.

EUA: Protect Universities from Attack

http://monitoring.academicfreedom.info/reports/2015-04-02-garissa-university-college

Following the terrorist attack that unfolded at Garissa University College in Kenya on Thursday 2 April killing 147 students and leaving at least 79 people wounded, the European University Association invites and encourages all European universities to observe one minute’s silence on 

Monday 27 April 2015 (12:00 CET) 

in remembrance of all those killed in and affected by the attack on Garissa and by other attacks on universities and university values around the world. While the events in Garissa stand out in their barbarity, we draw attention to the appalling reality that attacks continue to happen every day.

In calling for this observance, EUA reaffirms its belief that any act of violence or attack on education runs counter to the fundamental university values of freedom of thought and expression, tolerance and autonomy and undermines the ambition and fundamental right of any person to gain qualifications and make a contribution to their nation, society and the world.

Attacks on universities, their students and scholars weaken or obliterate academic freedom; have a devastating impact on research, teaching and access to education; and impair society’s long-term development. Safeguarding the freedom and safety of universities and university communities is therefore vital in ensuring the advancement of knowledge and the cultural and scientific development of humankind.

The pursuit of knowledge has no boundaries and universities transcend geographical and political frontiers. In keeping with its endorsement of the principles of the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack, EUA calls on universities across Europe and beyond to unite in solidarity in condemning these recent and any other forms of violence against education. It further appeals to the international community to take action to protect universities from attacks and prevent them from happening in the future.

European Universities Association, Brussels, April 2015

Open letter to Khoo Kay Kim – Rachel Leow

Malaysian Insider: Open letter to Khoo Kay Kim – Rachel Leow

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/open-letter-to-khoo-kay-kim-rachel-low
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/historian-tells-court-he-has-no-knowledge-of-history-textbook-with-his-name