UNIVERSITIES have come under much scrutiny during the global pandemic, particularly where public purse strings have had to be tightened.
Funding for higher education, as well as broader discussions on the role and reimagining of universities, is nothing new, but the pandemic has added impetus and urgency.
In the United Kingdom for example, the government is considering a slew of measures aimed at ensuring university courses are aligned with economic needs.
The higher education sector in Malaysia is distinct in many respects, but the core issues are the same, which are fundamentally about the value that universities contribute to economic development and society.