RM19.1bil Higher Education allocation must address lecturers' welfare, workload
KUALA LUMPUR: The Higher Education Ministry’s RM19.1 billion allocation under 2027 Budget must translate into improvements in lecturers’ welfare and working conditions amid growing academic and administrative demands.
The Malaysian Higher Education Ministry's RM19.1 billion allocation for 2027 must translate into better welfare and working conditions for lecturers, amid increasing academic and administrative demands, according to Malaysian Academic Association Congress (MAAC) vice-president II Prof Dr Fauzilah Salleh. While the government's commitment to higher education is commendable, the success of the allocation should be gauged by its impact on university staff and students, she emphasized.
Prof Fauzilah urged the government to prioritize lecturers' workload, career progression, and well-being, rather than fixating solely on university rankings and research accomplishments. She highlighted that lecturers' responsibilities have expanded beyond teaching, encompassing research, publishing, supervision, grant securing, community engagement, and meeting university key performance indicators.
Prof Fauzilah called for sustained research funding and simplified administrative procedures to alleviate the burden on researchers. She also advocated for greater attention to students' living costs, graduate employment prospects, and university autonomy. Prof Fauzilah stressed that a truly great university prioritizes the welfare of its community, values knowledge, and provides opportunities for lecturers and students to grow.
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