KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s higher education ambitions could be undermined if lecturers continue to struggle with excessive workloads, unfair career policies and inadequate institutional support, the Malaysian Academic Association Congress (MAAC) said.
Its executive committee said protecting lecturers’ welfare was essential to improving the quality of education, research and the country’s development.
“When academics have the time and institutional support to do their work well, students, universities and the nation all benefit,” it told the New Straits Times.
MAAC said the planned repeal of the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (AUKU) presented an opportunity to address longstanding weaknesses in university governance, academic freedom and staff welfare.
It warned that mounting administrative duties and pressure to meet performance targets were taking valuable time away from teaching, research and student development.
“Every unnecessary hour of paperwork takes time away from students and scholarship.”
The congress said universities should be judged by the quality of education they deliver, meaningful research and contributions to society, rather than rankings alone.
“Rankings should result from excellence, not define academia’s purpose.”
MAAC also called for greater accountability among university leaders, proposing an independent tribunal, ombudsman or review mechanism to examine serious disputes involving management, including allegations of unfair treatment and conflicts of interest.
“University autonomy is valuable, but it must never mean freedom from accountability. As publicly entrusted institutions,
universities must uphold transparency, fairness, integrity and natural justice.”
It said academics should be able to raise grievances and question university decisions without fearing disciplinary action or damage to their careers.
However, universities must also retain the authority to address genuine misconduct and persistent underperformance through fair and transparent procedures.
“Accountability must extend from junior lecturers to the highest levels of leadership.”
On career progression, MAAC said frequently changing promotion requirements could disadvantage academics who had spent years working towards established targets.
It called for stable promotion criteria and greater recognition of teaching, supervision and community engagement alongside research publications.
The congress also warned that excessive workloads, prolonged management disputes and
workplace pressures were affecting lecturers’ physical and mental wellbeing.
It urged the Higher Education Ministry to establish a formal committee involving academic associations to ensure lecturers participated directly in shaping future policies.
“Academic associations should participate from the beginning in strategic planning and policy formulation, rather than be consulted only at the final stage or invited primarily to ceremonial launches.”
MAAC said meaningful reform must ultimately create universities where academics are treated fairly, students receive quality education, and society benefits from research and knowledge.