Are our varsities still relevent?

Are our varsities still relevant? Is an article written by Prof Datuk John Anthony Xavier , that was published on 20^th of August 2014  in New Straits Times Online. Prof Datuk John Anthony Xavier is professor of management at the Graduate School of Business, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).  He was graduated from the University of Malaya in 1974 with a Bachelor of Economics (Honours) degree. He holds a Master of Business Administration (High Distinction) from the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium (1986) and a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from the University of London (External) (1988).  In 1996, he obtained his Ph.D. in Public Expenditure Management from the London School of Economics. The target audience of this article is generally for Malaysian especially for those who worked in an education sectors.

The writer intention is to persuade Malaysian to make universities education functional because universities have done little to improve their system of education. Therefore, Curriculum Universities have to consult with business and community leaders to map out the skills required of their graduates then they have to jointly overhaul curriculums to train graduates in requisite skills. The writer emphasize that an academic education must be all-rounded which means a dose of the humanities should be injected in the study of the sciences. All-roundedness also implies that our students engage in extra-curricular activities and also required student to appreciate the practice of their disciplines through attachments in related organizations. The writer highlighted that the academic environment too would need to offer greater stimulation to young minds by increasing diversity through increased recruitment of foreign academics and forge regular collaboration and exchange of faculty with other leading universities.

Fact and argument put forward by writer is to raise awareness that universities are seen increasingly less relevant to society. Looking at argument present by the writer, the writer had provided multi dimensional evidences, research result and real life situation to support his stance. The research result is reliable, in which one of it is carried out by Economist although without date.

The writer states that graduates remain unemployed because they lack the skills to make them relevant in the workplace. I think universities have a higher purpose and should not be seen as degree factories, whose role is simply prepared people for a job market. This reality is this view is losing ground and so we have to look sensibly at what it means to create an industry-relevant universities in order to prevent the crisis to be faced when student finished their studies. The way to encourage industry-relevant included candidates for this role must be well trained, universities must worked with employers to defined learning outcome and assessment process should included industry-based assignment.

The tone and choice of words used by the writer indicated his professionalism, with no biasness in terms of language style. No notes of sarcasm are used throughout this article, and it has been delivered straightforward and honestly. There are no fear appeals or provoking words had been used throughout this article. Thus, the method of delivering points could be said neutral without playing of emotions on the readers.

Overall, the purpose of this article is to persuade authorities to continue reforms and make some change in education system in Malaysia. However, the writer had successfully delivered his points through the arguments laid out by him, and making his stance clear.

Written by : Nur Shahazira Izzati Binti Shaharizan (A156968)