Foster entrepreneurial approach in higher education for radical changes: Sultan

SERI ISKANDAR: It is imperative to foster a more entrepreneurial approach towards higher education to achieve radical changes that appear to be necessary, according to Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah.
He said that among other things that could be done, was to include an even greater role for the industry and public-private partnerships, drawing on the greater dynamism and innovation that exists in the private sector.
"The further evolution of these and other such changes to the traditional education eco-system will require significant policy reform and innovation.
"This is particularly, the case in relation to the adoption of digital technologies which is as mentioned, an area in which Malaysia is leading the way," added the sultan in his royal address entitled, 'Building a Dynamic and Inclusive Education Ecosystem' at the Universiti Teknologi Petronas here, in conjunction with the university's 20th anniversary.
However, he stressed that the fundamental tension between the public mission of education and the profit motive that drives the private sector would exist with this strategy to include a greater role for the industry and public-private partnerships.
Sultan Nazrin noted however, that it was necessary now to bring some of this risk-taking and entrepreneurial spirit to the challenging task of educational reform.
"We must now apply such an approach to our higher education sector to ensure that it becomes sufficiently dynamic and inclusive to flourish in an unpredictable and fast-transforming world.
"This will be crucial for us to continue to fulfil our objective of becoming a globally recognised higher education destination," he said. — Bernama