Could UM back to its Glory?

Prof. Gauth Jasmon was appointed as new Vice Chancellor of University Malaya, the oldest university in Malaysia.

UM used to be one of the best university in Asia. However, the ranking dropped in these few years in THES Top University Ranking Table. UM was 169th in 2005, 192th in 2006, 246th in 2007 and 230th in 2008.

This became a hot issue and frequently criticised by many parties every year especially from the opposition parties. Thus, the main purpose of the appointment is clear - to improve the ranking of UM.

During the interview by Sin Chew Daily, Prof Gauth outlined his plans to improve the ranking. He aim to bring UM back to Top 200 in three years and Top 100 in six years. On of the major move is he will remove those lower quality and low performance lecturers. He welcome those first class graduates to continue their studies and research. He will instruct the academicians to submit a minimum numbers of their papers/thesis to the famous and well recognised research magazines. He believed that this will improve the overall quality of the university.

In short, he will run the university administration based on the merit.

However, he understand that he will not have the free hand as compared with what he had during his time with MMU. He brought MMU from zero to one the best university in the country in 12 years time.

We hope he keep firmly his original aim to bring back the glory of what UM was recognised in the old days and more importantly, the strong supports from the higher education ministry towards this aim must be consistent without influenced by those immature parties or policies.

To improve the university is not difficult, but to prevent interruption from "outsiders" is difficult.

As UM alumni and was a Prof Gauth's student, I wish professor every success and make UM back to its glory again.