UNIVERSITIES SHOULD BE MORE PERCEPTIVE TO STUDENTS' VIEWS

SINTOK (Malaysia), Feb 9 (Bernama) -- University administrations should be more open to the views of students besides providing them the opportunity to put forward their views for mutual benefit.

Malaysia's Deputy Minister for Higher Education, Saifuddin Abdullah, said
student welfare committees especially should be more student orientated and not
limit students' participation in presenting ideas or comments to universities'
administrations.

"I have received complaints that students representative councils had been
invited to attend meetings of the student welfare committees but the atmosphere
of the meetings were not orientated towards students and their views were not
considered.

"University administrations have to enhance recognition of the student
councils so that they can truly have meaningful role as student
representatives," Saifuddin told reporters after attending a 'New Politics
Dialogue and Lecture Series' at a university here Tuesday.

He said issues brought up by the student councils should be given due
attention as they involved the interests and welfare of students.

Saifuddin said all levels of university administration, including the
vice-chancellor, should provide feedback if they received a suggestion from
students and should not reject working papers without first going through them.

He said the student councils also needed to enhance their authority and
prove their credibility in looking after the interests of the students after the
had been chosen as student representatives.

He said the opportunity for students to put forward their views was greater
now after the Universities and College Universities Act was amended last year.

"If they want to form a parliament in universities, go ahead as after the
act was amended there is greater freedom for students and lecturers to present
their views," he said.
-- BERNAMA