USM withdraws decision to allow non-academics vote for deans

 

Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has withdrawn its decision to allow non-academic members to nominate faculty deans after receiving criticism from its staff.

In a statement today, the Malaysian Academic Movement (Move) said USM’s decision to allow non-academics to vote contravenes the existing law and university constitution.

"The decision was then withdrawn on July 11 after the Association of Academic and Administration Staff (Pkapusm) reminded the top administrator that the move breached Section 18 of the University and University College Act 1971 and Section 29(4) of the university constitution."

Under Section 29(4) of the university constitution, the vice-chancellor shall appoint a dean after discussion with the academic staff of each faculty and school.

"USM is among the first universities that implemented the deans' nomination and selection process through a bottom-up approach. This involved the academic staff in the nomination and voting process at every school."

The negotiation process is an important mechanism to ensure issues related to academic interests and freedom could be voiced, negotiated and defended at the school level, said Move.

Move, however, was aware of the weaknesses in the implementation of the processes. It said there was a lack of transparency as the university rarely announced the outcome of the nomination by academic members.

"Secondly, the vice-chancellor is not obliged to carry out the appointment of heads of departments according to majority votes. This raises doubts among academic staff who often question the accountability of the processes," said Move, adding that USM should refine the procedures.

The academic group questioned if the appointment of department heads as in USM was also practised in other public universities.

It stressed that higher learning institutions are obliged to ensure their autonomy.

Last Tuesday, news portal Twentytwo13 reported that "the university staff were informed that non-academic members would be involved in the nomination of deans for the 2022-2024 term, through a June 30 notice signed by the nomination committee chairperson, Musa Ali".

The notice stated that the nomination was scheduled for July 13 via the university’s online system.

Musa was quoted as saying that the move would ensure that non-academics would have a voice in the nomination and voting process. - Mkini