By Dr. Hj. Muhammad Khusairy– Malaysia has witnessed a rapid expansion of its higher education sector in recent years, with universities mushrooming nationwide. However, as the higher education landscape grows, concerns are rising about the shifting priorities of these institutions. Rather than focusing on providing quality education, some Malaysian universities appear to place a higher premium on profits, neglecting essential components such as state-of-the-art facilities, workshops, and laboratories crucial for meaningful research work and teaching. This article critically examines the alarming trend of prioritizing financial gains over educational excellence, accreditation bodies’ role, and the consequences for graduates entering the job market.
Many universities in Malaysia, once revered as centers of academic excellence, are increasingly adopting a profit-driven approach. These institutions seem more concerned with enrollment numbers and tuition fees than with the quality of education they provide. The commercialization of education is undermining the very essence of universities, which should be dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge and the holistic development of their students. But it has changed drastically when profit over quality has become the main agenda of these universities. Word-of- mouth from students, people, and industries has seen these universities have a bad reputation with the local community.
One of the most conspicuous signs of this profit-centric mentality is the glaring deficiency in essential facilities for research and learning. Universities that claim to offer cutting-edge research opportunities often fall short when it comes to providing state-of-the-art laboratories, workshops, and resources required for meaningful academic exploration. This deficiency not only hinders the students’ learning experience but also jeopardizes the integrity of research produced by these institutions. Few universities in Malaysia claim they have all the facilities needed to run for research and even have self-accredited signatories from the highest accredited body by the government. Still, about 50% percent of the equipment cannot be used and is just for “show” in the directory, only to pass the accreditation purposes from an accreditation body.
The role of accreditation bodies in maintaining educational standards cannot be overstated. While these bodies are entrusted with ensuring that universities meet the necessary criteria for quality education, there have been instances where institutions seemingly exploit the accreditation process. Some universities in Malaysia manage to secure accreditation despite lacking fundamental facilities, creating a facade of academic excellence that does not align with the ground reality. Those façade academicians will create façade ecosystems, which will fracture the countries’ progress with façade experiences.
Accreditation is a stamp of approval that assures students, parents, and potential employers that a university adheres to high educational standards. However, in some Malaysian universities, the accreditation process appears to be more of a charade than a genuine assessment of academic prowess. Institutions navigate the accreditation criteria by meeting the minimum requirements without necessarily excelling in the aspects crucial for a well-rounded education.
One of the most disturbing outcomes of this profit-oriented approach is the increasing number of graduates deemed unemployable by industries. Employers quickly notice the gap between what these graduates were promised and what they bring. The lack of practical skills, hands-on experience, and exposure to real-world challenges leave many graduates ill-prepared for the demands of the job market. On the other hand, most of these universities also claim they have 100% employment, which is ridiculous in many industries, to be believed based on unrelated job scope and fragile assumption of work related to courses taken.
As universities prioritize profits over education, graduates find themselves precarious and unsatisfied with their university experience. Armed with degrees devalued by the industry due to the lack of practical training, these individuals face unemployment or underemployment and may contribute to unemployability. The purpose of pursuing higher education – to enhance employability and contribute meaningfully to society – is compromised. This has caused many graduates to become unemployed in a silent way, where engineers ended up becoming Grab drivers, etc.
On the other hand, universities use their alumni profiles for gain and their agenda, primarily through marketing, getting grants, etc., with or without their concerns. But little do they know that the achievement is based on the person’s willingness to change, educated by their desire to pursue an achievable target, which cannot be brought or learned in the universities. Most façade agendas by universities are done by showing their alumni progress and mentioning it because they do it in the universities and use their facilities, which are not in the universities or can even be used.
A paradigm shift in the mindset of university administrators, policymakers, and accreditation bodies is imperative to address this pressing issue. Education should not be viewed as a transaction but as an investment in the future. Universities must prioritize creating an environment that fosters intellectual growth, practical skills, and critical thinking rather than just
a conveyor belt for churning out degrees. The most dangerous type of university is when they cap high course fees and increase fees every year but do not have the facilities to run the research work, which is not vague in many Malaysian universities nowadays, especially those in private or state government support universities. What concerns our people the most is that the state government still provides them a lot of funding to run the courses, i.e., engineering, even though
they know the universities lack state-of-the-art facilities and are critical to the engineering main core courses themselves.
A crucial step in rectifying the current state of Malaysian universities is a significant investment in facilities for research and learning. Laboratories equipped with the latest technology, well- equipped workshops, and spaces encouraging collaboration and innovation are essential for creating a conducive learning environment. These investments benefit the students and
contribute to the nation’s development through groundbreaking research. Accreditation bodies play a pivotal role in upholding educational standards. To restore trust in the accreditation process, there must be a commitment to transparency and a stringent evaluation of whether universities meet the criteria for academic excellence, i.e., the universities should list
out the equipment they have on the website to get publicly audited and allowed public auditor to involve in the state and accredited body when accredited. The focus should not solely be on meeting minimum requirements but on ensuring that institutions go above and beyond to provide a comprehensive education. This ensures that 100% of the lab equipment can be used in real life.
Fostering collaboration is crucial to bridge the gap between academia and industry. Universities should actively engage with sectors to understand their evolving needs and incorporate relevant skills into the curriculum. Internship programs, industry projects, and workshops conducted by professionals can provide students with practical insights and make them more employable upon graduation.
The profit-driven approach of some Malaysian universities poses a significant threat to the nation’s higher education system. By neglecting essential components such as facilities for research and learning, these institutions compromise the quality of education and produce graduates ill-equipped for the demands of the job market. A paradigm shift is urgently needed,
with a renewed focus on investing in education rather than treating it as a business venture. Only by prioritizing the pursuit of knowledge and fostering an environment conducive to learning can Malaysian universities regain their status as centers of academic excellence. The future of the nation’s education system depends on the collective effort to ensure that profit does not overshadow progress.
Thus, the ruling government today must affirm the action taken to this profit-driven university that unperformed on their part to be closed or suspended till proven otherwise to ensure the future education quality of the future generations is secure and maintained following the driven industry and economic trend.
Ts. Dr. Hj. Muhammad Khusairy Bin Capt. Hj. Bakri is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Composite Materials and Engineering Center, Washington State University.
The article is a contributed piece and represents the view of the writer and not of necessarily of BusinessToday.
