USM granted Apex status

PUTRAJAYA (Sept 03, 2008): Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) was yesterday chosen for the Accelerated Programme for Excellence (Apex), beating three other universities, including the country's oldest, the University of Malaya (UM).
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin told a press conference that USM was selected based on the university's transformation plan and its preparedness to make changes to its proposal paper.
"The selection for the Apex programme is not only based on past achievements and excellence, but more on the planning for the future and whether the university is able to achieve a world-class status within the stipulated period of five years," he said when announcing USM's selection for the programme.
During the five-year period, USM must be able to put itself in the Times Higher Education Supplement (THES) list of world's Top 100 universities and among the Top 50 by 2020, he said.
He was confident that USM would be able to achieve world-class standard.
"Let's see how USM fares and then we will decide whether to choose another for the programme," he added.
Mohamed Khaled said USM's selection for the programme did not mean that other universities were sidelined. On the other hand, this should spur them to further improve their position, he said when asked why UM was not selected.
Nine public universities nationwide had submitted their application for the programme but only four -- USM, UM, Universiti Putra Malaysia and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia -- were shortlisted.
USM's winning proposal paper is titled "Transforming Higher Education for a Sustainable Tomorrow".
The Apex university programme is part of the National Higher Education Strategic Plan where universities will be divided into three groups -- Apex University, Elite University and Competitive University.
An Apex university is a university of excellence used as a yardstick in higher education worldwide.
Under the programme, an Apex university is promised autonomy in finance, service scheme, management, student intake, study fees and in determining the top administrative leadership, Bernama reported.
USM’s recognition as an Apex university is the culmination of initiatives since the university produced a working paper on ‘Transforming Higher Education for a Sustainable Tomorrow’ a few years back.
In a brief statement today, USM deputy registrar and communications head Mohamad Abdullah said the university has undertaken a series of innovative programmes to enhance its capacity and stature in academic fields.
He noted the university’s emphasis on fostering research and specialist expertise as a prime factor in elevating its credentials.
“We at USM feel gratified and touched at being selected by the Higher Education Ministry to start the Apex university programme,” he said.
He added that the recognition was a fitting gift for the university’s 40th anniversary next year.
He stressed that USM has taken great pains to ensure its educational thrust remained relevant to future needs.
Mohamad noted the effect of programmes like the ‘Healthy Campus’ and ‘University in a Garden’ initiatives to encourage voluntary work in global and environmental activities among faculty members and students.
USM has also had workshops and planning activities based on ‘scenario planning’ which later materialised various activities to promote the transforming focus of higher education, he stressed.
Updated: 07:55PM Wed, 03 Sep 2008