RESEARCH COACHING BY PROF. EMERITUS DR. KEITH A. HOUGHTON:- UNIVERSITY AND RETURN ON INVESTMENT: HOW WE VALUE HIGHER INSTITUTION BUSINESS?

24 JULY 2022- Research is the key point to increase the ranking of the university. It is crucial to ensure that in order to increase institution’s profile, researchers in Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) focuses on high quality research.

Another one way that UUM could do to increase high quality publication in UUM is to hire more international members. Small number of papers are acceptable but with good quality. Contract above contract is possible.

For QS Universities Ranking, UUM’s name must appear in these high quality publications. On yearly basis, UUM must have at least six to eight high quality papers, at least in Scopus database. Another possible initiative that could be practiced is to increase citations among researchers in UUM through good review paper publications. Incentive for publications is a very good approach to encourage researchers in UUM in a long run.

“SMALLER IN QUANTITY, BUT BETTER IN QUALITY”

UUM could create industrial PhD programmes for seniors in industries, where they are usually seniors in industries, aged of more 50 years old, who are very influential, and have great access to industrial data and grants. For each program, 10 sessions per year would be adequate.

There should be 8 positions in the advisory board for this industrial PhD programmes who could be the Managing Partners, the Technical Partners as well as the existing employers of the alumni. This effort could also create trusting relationships with UUM in a long term. These Advisory Board members would be a very great support to the university.

All in all, in the first stage, UUM could focus on these three elements: (i) Education, (ii) Research and (iii) Engagement. UUM can focus on the customer experience. A good start would be to encourage consultation activities and involve stakeholders in researcher activities in UUM. Students need to be respected and managed based on different backgrounds, a platform need to be developed. Students need to be arranged at all times.

“Value propositions of UUM should be (i) focusing on strength of UUM, (ii) focusing on strength of Sintok, and (iii) focusing on Customers’ Experience”