THE National Professors Council (NPC) met for the first time recently to nail down the specifics of how they can contribute to the nation’s development as representatives of the scholarly community in Malaysia.
Launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in April, the council was formed to tap into the expertise and knowledge of the 1,426 professors in public universities around the country.
“The formation of this council comes at the perfect time to help strengthen the national economy, as well as social development,” said Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin at the council’s strategic planning meeting held at a hotel in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Mohamed Khaled (third from right) posing with some of the professors holding their framed credentials after his speech.
Among the activities he hopes the council will undertake are gap analyses between more successful nations and Malaysia, and being proactive in offering opinions on matters related to the 14 clusters under the council.
Said Mohamed Khaled: “We realise that our Government leaders have said that the era where the Government knows best has ended, and we must ask the public for their input.
“For example, the New Economic Model (NEM), the introduction of the goods and services tax (GST), the removal of subsidies … you should describe, analyse and offer your opinions on these matters as scholars, and I am sure the community will then have high regard for your opinions,” he said.
Mohamed Khaled (right) having a light moment with Prof Shamsul Amri (centre, foreground) and some of the other professors as they prepare to pose for a photo during the event.
The council’s main committee members include council chairman and national science adviser Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Zakri Abdul Hamid, deputy chairman Prof Datuk Dr Shamsul Amri Baharuddin, secretary Prof Dr Raduan Che Rose and the heads of the 14 clusters within the council.
The 14 clusters are:
- Economy and finance
- Politics, security and international affairs
- Medicine and health sciences
- History, heritage and socio-culture
- Social development and welfare
- Education and human capital development
- Industry and innovation
- Information technology and communications
- Science and mathematics
- Natural resources and environment
- Engineering and technology
- Governance, law and public administration
- Pharmacy and applied science
Mohamed Khaled said: “The council will be a special body under the Higher Education Ministry.
“Administration-wise, the ministry will be the secretariat, and the council will report directly to the Higher Education Minister.”
He added that the Cabinet had already approved an initial allocation of RM2mil to start off the council, and subsequently, RM3mil a year for its budget.
The minister also said that a few academicians from private institutions had approached him about setting up a parallel council for private university professors.
“We will see if this (the NPC) works first, only then will we know if it has the support of the professorial community. Once we’ve gained their support and acceptance, we can bring in the IPTS (private higher learning institutions) professors,” he said.
He added that the council itself had suggested that IPTS professors be invited to join their activities on an individual basis.
Mohamed Khaled also presented credentials to the deputy chairmen and secretaries of each cluster, as well as the 25 pro-tem committee members of the council, during the event.
The main committee members had already received their credentials from Najib during the council’s launch in April.
by Tan Shiow Chin.
http://thestar.com.my/education/story.asp?file=/2010/6/6/education/6375067&sec=education
