This article explores the idea of a university with specific focus in Malaysian context. We begin guided by these questions—“What is university?” and “What are universities for?”—in examining historical conceptual development universities. followed asking more question—“What which we discussed overarching roles public private this developing country. Having examined universities, taken into context complexity challenges surrounding important societal institutions, discuss two “experimental”...

Access into higher education has traditionally been dominated by males. However, the current situation in Malaysia as well many developed and developing nations is that females have outnumbered males education. By comparing gender enrolment, this paper illustrates extent of disparity Malaysian across different institutions, levels study fields study. The three dimensions can be summarised a trend which there over-representation public universities, all disciplines except engineering,...

The COVID-19 pandemic is the first to occur in an age of hyperconnectivity. This paper presents results from online anonymous survey conducted Malay, English, and Chinese, during week Movement Control Order Malaysia (n=1075), which aimed examine public knowledge, perception communication behavior Malaysian society face a sudden outbreak social distancing measures. Although level risk positive surrounding was high, majority respondents reported receiving lot questionable information....

International university rankings are a widely used measure of higher education excellence. Since publication rates an important element in most ranking systems, pushing faculty to increase their top-tier international journals is viewed by many government and officials as strategy for improving ratings thus gaining recognition. This study examined the manner which public universities Malaysia have created aligned incentives effort encourage members rate journals. The grounded...

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the policies and practices internationalisation higher education in Malaysia, specifically explore how Sustainable Development Goals are translated into practices. Design/methodology/approach This takes a chronological historical approach on Malaysia. includes identifying patterns, trends shifts at system institutional levels. Findings At level, Malaysia has transformed from sending receiving country, being an aid recipient equal partner, host...

Malaysia is a multi-racial country where about quarter of the population are ethnic Chinese. Arguably, also only outside Greater China to have ‘complete’ Chinese education track from primary higher education. The system, consisting both public and private institutions, has five institutions that can be considered as ‘Chinese community-based’. These were established by various interest groups in community with seemingly different purposes. Hence, based on interviews 23 participants, ranging...

The COVID-19 pandemic is the first to occur in an age of hyperconnectivity. This paper presents results from online anonymous survey conducted Malay, English, and Chinese, during week Movement Control Order Malaysia (n=1075), which aimed examine public knowledge, perception communication behavior Malaysian society face a sudden outbreak social distancing measures. Although level risk positive surrounding was high, majority respondents reported receiving lot questionable information....

Academic governance and leadership are two inter-related concepts that set the tone direction for development of higher education at system as well institutional levels.This article examines academic in Malaysian by focusing on national strategic initiatives: National Higher Education Strategic Plan 2007-2020 Malaysia Blueprint (Higher Education) 2015-2025.From analysing initiatives, we discuss ways which have been articulated systemic levels.We find that, centralisation persists despite...

Literature suggests that state–market relations in Asian transnational education appear as a hybrid of economic socialism and liberalism well supra-territoriality sovereignty. Such notion focuses on how states manage the struggles over meaning value higher education, thereby addressing various ways which participate neoliberal globalisation. This paper argues states' policy choices are restricted by local politics resulting agendas. argument explains paradoxical situation Malaysia...

Study abroad has a long-standing tradition in higher education. Apart from the pursuit of knowledge that cannot be confined by boundaries nation-state, sending local talents to study also been strategy build capacity developing/emerging nation like Malaysia. This article focuses on stories and experiences Malaysian adjusting adapting situation as academic staff when they returned universities after their doctoral abroad. Through thematic analysis guided Structuration Theory, this illustrates...

Cambodia and Malaysia are two Southeast Asian countries at dissimilar levels of socio-economic development. Their higher education systems also on different developmental paths with varying motivations driving their respective development progress, but the governance across these has one striking similarity. Both see neoliberal principles ideologies as a means to guide education, while States, degrees, still exert significant control ‘guidance’ over institutional governance. This similarity,...

Are Asian universities different from those in Western countries? Premised on the hypothesis that are because of hybridization between academic models and local traditional cultures, this paper investigates hybrid characteristics Malaysian resulting interaction contemporary external influences practices. At system level, ideology neoliberalism ethnic-based politics has resulted ethnized higher education system. Hybrid at institutional level have been operationalized into domains governance...

Purpose Universities in Malaysia, particular public universities, have been tasked not only with the traditional focus on pursuit of knowledge, but also important role nation-building. The purpose this paper is to explore nation-building agenda development Malaysian higher education globalisation era. Design/methodology/approach Grounded within literature and neoliberalism, approach examines Malaysia across time. Findings Two aspects that seen tension changes emerging from interaction...

This paper examined the issue of graduate employability in Malaysia by exploring its theoretical underpinnings, defining key concepts, analysing levels employability, and investigating underlying socio-political-economic aspects issue. Other than Malaysian context, study also drew insights from international perspectives on employed framework, comprising theories job market signalling, human capital, neoliberalism, order to provide a comprehensive understanding employability. Then,...

Many of the internationalisation efforts in Malaysia have focused on enhancing collaboration with developed economies and Western systems. This article seeks to fll a gap literature by examining six initiatives internationalise higher education within Malaysian system through prism South-South cooperation. It showcases ways which participated such illustrates four levels engagement ranging from government-to-government, institution-to-institution, international organisation-to-government...