Idris: Ministry needs new administration model for universities

GEORGE TOWN: The Education Ministry is in need of a new model for university administration to enhance collaboration between universities and industry players.
Second Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said the change in the administration of a university should be changed to facilitate research and development, which indirectly, could generate the country's economy through the commercialisation of R&D products.
"At present, relations between the industries and universities are still new.
"We need a new model on how a university should be administered and how the ministry should administer a university," he told reporters after appearing as a guest in an industrial forum, 'The Role of Universities in Propelling R&D in Local Business' here today.
Idris said that over the past five years, the commercialisation of R&D products had reaped in RM1.2 billion and believed the amount would increase further with five universities being accorded the research university status.
The five universities are Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Universiti Malaya (UM).
He also gave the assurance that the allocation for R&D at universities would be increased in tandem with current needs.
"We want research to be our culture," he added. – Bernama