Today, universities are more than just places to learn; they’re symbols of academic achievement. They serve as the gateway to obtaining degrees and acquiring knowledge in various fields.
However, recent observations suggest that many universities, particularly those in Islamic countries like Malaysia, are grappling with a crisis of identity and purpose.
According to Prof. Dr. Syed Muhammad Khairudin Al-Junied, a Senior Lecturer at the National University of Singapore (NUS), there is a growing concern that universities are losing their essence in producing distinguished scholars.
This sentiment is echoed by a noticeable lack of impactful research and studies being published, failing to resonate with society at large.
What universities are really focused on these days
Prof. Syed Muhammad Khairudin points out a big problem: universities are changing their focus.
Instead of focusing on overall growth and education, many are more interested in personal or group goals. This shift is hurting the sense of togetherness in university communities, as everyone rushes to climb higher in rankings and get noticed.
“The connections between universities and communities are getting weaker because everyone’s focused on getting higher rankings,” he said in a quote from Berita Harian.
This doesn’t just hurt education
Prof. Syed Muhammad Khairudin warns that this change is causing problems beyond just academics.
He says that knowledge, which should light the way for us, is getting mixed up in politics and personal interests. This doesn’t just hurt education—it also keeps society from moving forward by holding people back.
Prof. Syed Muhammad Khairudin says we need to be practical about fixing these problems. He thinks both governments and universities need to work together.
The government needs to take pragmatic steps in helping local universities return to their original role as institutions that produce scholars,” he concluded.
