By Dr Nik Soffiya Nik Mat, Dr Amir Rashad Mustaffa
Convocation is a ceremony that commemorates the achievements of students who have managed to fulfil certain academic milestones. Often, it is a special time for family members and friends to rejoice and celebrate the academic success of graduates. The highest academic qualification attainable in academia is the doctoral degree, Doctor of Philosophy, which affirms the capabilities of students to apply their knowledge and mastery, and produce novel, meaningful and impactful work. It serves as a gateway ticket for graduates to enter academia.
In light of the current graduation and convocation season, it is timely for us to revisit the criticisms towards local graduates, especially PhD holders from Malaysian public universities. Just recently, this issue was discussed in the parliament, and addressed by the Minister of Higher Education, YB Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin after a social media backlash against a PAS Member of Parliament who circulated misinformation regarding the familial ties of certain political figures. This has exposed the said Member of Parliament to online brickbats, and caused a sweeping generalisation criticising all PhD holders, especially those who have graduated from local public universities. According to Khaled Nordin, the Ministry of Higher Education will ensure that higher education institutions impose more stringent criteria for students who wish to pursue a doctoral degree.
The call to impose these stringent criteria for local PhD candidates is not new; just last year, former Member of Parliament of Hang Tuah Jaya expressed his concern on the overproduction of PhD graduates from a local public university. In a perplexing conundrum for the Malaysian academic landscape, a surplus of PhD graduates is met with a stark scarcity of available academic positions in local universities. The number of PhD graduates being produced yearly is quickly saturating the market and this emerging challenge raises questions about the alignment between academic qualifications and employment opportunities, leaving many highly qualified individuals in a precarious position.
Recent years have witnessed a commendable surge in the number of Malaysians obtaining doctoral degrees, reflecting the nation’s commitment to fostering a knowledge-driven society. However, the success of these scholars in securing long-term positions within academia is not keeping pace with the growing pool of talent. According to a New Straits Times article dated November 1st 2016, there were 23,000 PhD degree holders in Malaysia at the time and the Higher Education Ministry was aiming to produce 60,000 PhD degree holders by 2023, which seems noble but very ambitious.
The lack of available academic positions not only affects the career prospects of these PhD graduates but also raises questions about the sustainability of the academic ecosystem. A thriving academic community requires a balance between experienced faculty and fresh perspectives brought in by new graduates.
To address this issue, it is suggested that a comprehensive review of university funding models be done, investment in research and development be increased, and mentorship programs to support emerging scholars be upheld. Additionally, a re-evaluation of the criteria for promotion and tenure could encourage universities to prioritise the long-term career development of their academic staff. Some of these initiatives have already been proposed in the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025; however, it appears that their implementation is either met with reluctance or insufficient executive force, thus perpetuating the issue at hand.
To conclude, while we celebrate the achievements of our graduates this convocation season, it is critical for us to re-evaluate some parts of the system that shapes the academic journeys of students at local universities. It is a collective responsibility of universities in Malaysia to re-establish a more balanced and resilient academic ecosystem through approaches that support the integration of PhD holders into the academic community, and into a more diverse career path too. This is fundamental in tackling the challenges we have in balancing the production and employment of our PhD graduates.
Lastly, it is imperative that we remain committed to becoming a knowledge-driven society and balance this commitment with a strong emphasis on safeguarding the quality of education and creating impactful contributions to the advancement of knowledge.
The authors are Senior Lecturers at the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, Universiti Malaya
