Across Academic and Administrator Dichotomy : Towards Providing Excellence Leadership To Transform Higher Education For Effective And Efficient Management

Abstract : Sustainable Development in Human Resource within Malaysia Public University is the main objective of strategic planning whether for academician or administrator. However, dichotomy between academician and administrator had separated this two groups into two sets of different category in university. Academician has been considered as the first class citizen, while administrator is considered as second class citizen. Since its inception, USM has given emphasize more on academician rather than administrator. By doing that, most of administrator thought their contribution towards USM’s mission and vision are not recognized by the university. Eventually, this kind of perception will demoralized their will of enthusiasm, passion and eagerness to strive for excellence.

The topic of discussion for this paper will only discuss about how to create a fair environment to all citizens within university which means equality in welfare matters, salary increment, service remuneration, promotion, continuous learning, jobs delegation and distribution, inclusiveness in decision making and planning, multi tasking, discipline, rules and regulation, good governance and leadership skill. At the moment, there were no discussion on dichotomy between academician and administrator within university, and again this paper will emphasize more on this matter. To be more specific, USM will be the main platform for discussion eventhough  there are more than 20 public universities in Malaysia. Nowadays, USM is the only public university in Malaysia achieved the status of APEX (The Accelerated Programme for Excellence) university, and hopefully by the year 2015 USM will be an APEX university. In addition, APEX is a fast track development programme for institutions of higher education to achieve and to be recognised as world class institutions. In order to achieved that, many works have to be done, and it needs an integrated effort from academician and administrator to work together ‘side by side’, ‘hand by hand’.

We will also discuss on how to minimize the range of dichotomy between academician and administrator in line with future challenges as listed by the former Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Tan Sri Dato’ Dzulkifli Abdul Razak, during the 2009 Annual Address entitled “Universiti APEX :  Satu tuntutan, Satu Pengorbanan”  (APEX university:  A Quest, A Sacrifice.) by advocating seven thrust areas as a basis to shape the nation’s first APEX. The seven areas are concern about:  The Future, Uniqueness, Sustainability, Humanity, Universality, Change and Sacrifice.

Whether we like it or not, we have to admit that academician is considered the first class citizen in any aspect of life within the campus, and also the nation. For instance, the establishment of ‘Majlis Profesor Negara (MPN)’is a premier recognition by the Malaysian Government to the world of academia. To be frank, it should be the way if we want to inculcate the culture of academia within our nation, but the question is “Are they really first class citizen?”. This question will be discussed further in order to reveal the truth lies behind the question. At the end of discussion, hopefully we may suggest a few recommendations to university in order to improve the planning of human resource and also human capital which is crucial if we want to embrace all the challenges ahead in the pursuit of achieving APEX university by the year 2015.