KOTA BHARU, Nov 19 — Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin reminded higher education institutions in the country not to be too obsessed with the university ranking system.
He said that many articles have been published about the ranking system, and even international bodies including the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), have expressed concern about the system.
“It is not possible to measure all universities in general because each university was created for different goals.
“The measure used may be suitable for developed countries (but) not suitable for most other countries. So the ranking can only be used to see where the position is, but not as a basis for a university to be excellent, of quality or not,” he said.
He said this to reporters after officiating the Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital’s (HUSM) 40th anniversary at the Main Hall, USM Health Campus, Kubang Kerian here today.
Also present were the HUSM director, Professor Datuk Dr Nik Hisamuddin Nik Ab Rahman and USM Board of Governors chairman, Datuk Seri Dr Awang Adek Hussin.
HUSM, which has been operating since 1983, has produced more than 2,000 cross-disciplinary medical experts through various evolutions in performing its functions as a university teaching hospital (HPU) and offering health services to the community.
Earlier, in his speech, Mohamed Khaled asked all HPUs in the higher education system to cooperate and share resources, expertise and move strategically.
“Thus, the field of medicine advanced by the higher education sector will become larger, competitive, comprehensive and cohesive,” he said.
