Snapshots of Malaysian Academics in International Engagement

Year 2022, , 45 - 61, 30.11.2022

Doria Abdullah Norzaini Azman Chang Da Wan Nik Sabrina Abdullah

https://doi.org/10.2399/yod.21.202205

Abstract

Higher education academics in Malaysia are encouraged to enhance their outreach and international experience via engagement beyond the campus. Such activities are considered paramount in fostering competence, credibility and relevance of the Malaysian higher education system as a whole. This paper explores the experiences and perceptions of internationalisation based on the Academic Profession in the Knowledge-Based Society (APIKS) global survey on academics (n=4368) in Malaysian higher education institutions (2019–2020). The primary purpose is to highlight Malaysian academics’ perceptions of internationalisation in their teaching, research and publication activities as well as their perceptions of the outcomes of internationalisation, including their institutional strategies and support for internationalisation. In addition, cross-sectional analyses of various groups (education background, rank and university types) were carried out to see the differences between them in internationalisation activities. The findings indicate that while Malaysian academics were quite international in their teaching and research orientations, this was less pronounced in their publications. International outcomes leaned strongly towards enhancing institutional reputation and academic quality. While the respondents had positive responses to institutional strategies for internationalisation, they seemed less assured of sufficient commitment, in terms of funding, to support scholarly activities. The findings also confirm the existence of differences among age groups, institution types and ranks on individual international research and publication practices. This paper concludes with recommendations for policy and practice on academic mobility, research support and professional development.

Keywords

Academic mobility, academics, higher education, internationalisation, Malaysia

Supporting Institution

Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education

Project Number

GG-2019-069

Malezyalı Akademisyenlerin Uluslararası Çalışmalarından Örnekler

Abstract

Malezya’daki yükseköğretim akademisyenleri, kampüs dışındaki etkileşimler yoluyla sosyal yardımlarını ve uluslararası deneyimlerini geliştirmeye teşvik edilmektedir. Bu tür faaliyetler, bir bütün olarak Malezya yükseköğretim sisteminin yeterliliğini, güvenilirliğini ve uygunluğunu geliştirmede çok önemli olarak kabul edilir. Bu çalışma, Malezya yükseköğretim kurumlarında (2019–2020) akademisyenler (n=4368) ile ilgili Bilgi Tabanlı Toplumda Akademik Meslek (APIKS) küresel anketine dayalı uluslararasılaşma deneyimlerini ve algılarını araştırmaktadır. Birincil amaç, Malezyalı akademisyenlerin öğretim, araştırma ve yayın faaliyetlerinde uluslararasılaşma algılarının yanı sıra kurumsal stratejileri ve uluslararasılaşma desteği de dahil olmak üzere uluslararasılaşmanın sonuçlarına ilişkin algılarını ortaya koymaktır. Ayrıca, uluslararasılaşma faaliyetlerinde aralarındaki farklılıkları görmek için eğitim geçmişi, akademik unvan ve üniversite türleri bakımından çeşitli grupların kesitsel analizleri yapılmıştır. Bulgular, Malezyalı akademisyenlerin öğretim ve araştırma yönelimlerinde oldukça uluslararası olmalarına rağmen, uluslararasılaşmanın yayınlarında daha az belirgin olduğunu göstermektedir. Uluslararası sonuçlar, kurumsal itibarı ve akademik kaliteyi artırmaya güçlü bir şekilde eğilir. Kurumsal uluslararasılaşma stratejileri konusundaki görüşleri olumlu olsa da katılımcılar bilimsel faaliyetleri desteklemede yeterli kurumsal finansmanın verilip verilmediği konusunda daha az emin görünmektedirler. Bulgular ayrıca bireysel uluslararası araştırma ve yayınlarda yaş grupları, kurum türleri ve unvanlar bakımından farklılıklar bulunduğunu doğrulamaktadır. Çalışma, akademik hareketlilik, araştırma desteği ve mesleki gelişim konusunda politika ve uygulamaya yönelik önerilerle sona ermektedir.

Keywords

Akademik hareketlilik, akademisyenler, Malezya, uluslararasılaşma, yükseköğretim

Project Number

GG-2019-069

References

• Abramo, G., D’Angelo, C. A., & Di Costa, F. (2009). Research collaboration and productivity: Is there correlation? Higher Education, 57(2), 155–171.
• Amaral, A. (2008). Transforming higher education. In A. Amaral, I. Bleiklie, & C. Musselin (Eds.), From governance to identity (pp. 81–94). Dordrecth: Springer.
• Andreasen, R. J. (2003). Barriers to international involvement. Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education, 10(3), 65–69.
• Appe, S. (2020). Internationalisation in the context of academic capitalism. Research in Comparative and International Education, 15(1), 62–68.
• Azman, N., & Wan, C. D. (2021). The rhetoric and reality of Malaysian higher education internationalisation policy and its strategic initiatives. In J. Thondhlana, E. C. Garwe, H. de Wit, J. Gacel-Avila, F. Huang, & W. Tamrat (Eds.), The Bloomsbury handbook of the internationalisation of higher education in the global South (pp. 115–134). London: Bloomsbury Academic.
• Buckner, E., & Stein, S. (2020). What counts as internationalisation? Deconstructing the internationalisation imperative. Journal of Studies in International Education, 24(2), 151–166.
• de Wit, H., & Altbach, P. G. (2021). Internationalization in higher education: Global trends and recommendations for its future. Policy Reviews in Higher Education, 5(1), 28–46.
• Dewey, P., & Duff, S. (2009). Reason before passion: Faculty views on internationalisation in higher education. Higher Education, 58(4), 491–504.
• Donald, J. (2007). Internationalisation, diversity and the humanities curriculum: Cosmopolitanism and multiculturalism revisited. Journal of Philosophy of Education, 41(3), 289–308.
• Ductor, L (2014). Does co-authorship lead to higher academic productivity? Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, 77(3), 385–407.
• Festervand, T. A., & Tillery, K. R. (2001). Short-term study-abroad programs: A professional development tool for international business faculty. Journal of Education for Business, 77(2), 106–111.
• Finkelstein, M., & Sethi, W. (2014). Patterns of faculty internationalisation: A predictive model. In F. Huang, M. Finkelstein, & M. Rostan (Eds.), The internationalisation of the academy. The changing academy: The Changing academic profession in international comparative perspective (Vol. 10, pp. 237–257). Dordrecht: Springer.
• Finkelstein, M. J., Walker, E., & Chen, R. (2013). The American faculty in an age of globalization: Predictors of internationalisation of research content and professional networks. Higher Education, 66(3), 325–340.
• Friesen, R. (2013). Faculty member engagement in Canadian university internationalisation: A consideration of understanding, motivations and rationales. Journal of Studies in International Education, 17(3), 209–227.
• Hoffman, D. M. (2009). Changing academic mobility patterns and international migration: What will academic mobility mean in the 21st century? Journal of Studies in International Education, 13, 347–364.
• Horta, H. (2009). Global and national prominent universities: Internationalisation, competitiveness and the role of the State. Higher Education, 58(3), 387–405.
• Huang, F. (2007). Internationalisation of higher education in the developing and emerging countries: A focus on transnational higher education in Asia. Journal of Studies in International Education, 11(3–4), 421–432.
• Huang, F. (2015). The internationalisation of the academy in East Asia. In U. Teichler, & W. K. Cummings (Eds.), Forming, recruiting and managing the academic profession (pp. 259–270). Dordrecht: Springer.
• Huang, F., Finkelstein, M., & Rostan, M. (Eds.). (2013). The internationalisation of the academy: Changes, realities and prospects. Dordrecth: Springer.
• Knight, J. (2004). Internationalisation remodelled: Definition, approaches, and rationales. Journal of Studies in International Education, 8(1), 5–31.
• Knight, J. (2008). Higher education in turmoil: The changing world of internationalisation. Leiden: BRILL Publisher.
• Knight, J. (2012). Concepts, rationales, and interpretive frameworks in the internationalisation of higher education. In D. K. Deardorff, H. de Wit, J. D. Heyl, & T. Adams (Eds.), The SAGE handbook of international higher education (pp. 27–42). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
• LeBeau, L. G. (2010). The international mobility of the American faculty: Scope and challenges. Journal of the Indiana University Student Personnel Association, 2010, 41–47.
• Lee, M. N. N. (2015). Higher education in Malaysia: National strategies and innovative practices. In J. C. Shin, G. A. Postiglione, & F. Huang (Eds.), Mass higher education development in East Asia (Vol. 2, pp. 105–118). Cham: Springer.
• Li, B., & Tu, Y. (2016). Motivations of faculty engagement in internationalisation: A survey in China. Higher Education, 71(1), 81–96.
• Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA). (2009). Code of practice for institutional audit. Petaling Jaya, Selangor: Malaysian Qualifications Agency.
• Marquina, M., & Ferreiro, M. (2015). The academic profession: The dynamics of emerging countries. In W. K. Cummings, & U. Teichler (Eds.), The relevance of academic work in comparative perspective (pp. 179–192). Cham: Springer.
• Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) Malaysia (2007). Pelan strategik pendidikan tinggi negara 2020. Putrajaya: Ministry of Higher Education.
• Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) Malaysia (2011a). Malaysia’s global reach: A new dimension. Putrajaya: Ministry of Higher Education.
• Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) Malaysia (2011b). Internationali-sation policy for higher education Malaysia. Putrajaya: Ministry of Higher Education.
• Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) Malaysia (2015). Malaysia education blueprint (higher education 2015–2025). Putrajaya: Ministry of Higher Education.
• Mittelmeier, J., Rienties, B., Rogaten, J., Gunter, A., & Raghuram, P. (2019). Internationalisation at a distance and at home: Academic and social adjustment in a South African distance learning context. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 72, 1–12.
• Rostan, M. (2015). International aspects of academic work and career at the beginning of the twenty-first century. In U. Teichler, & W. K. Cummings (Eds.), Forming, recruiting and managing the academic profession (pp. 241–258). Dordrecht: Springer.
• Rostan, M., Finkelstein, M., & Huang, F. (2014). A profile of CAP participating countries and a global overview of academic internationalisation in 2007–2008. In F. Huang, M. Finkelstein, & M. Rostan (Eds.), The internationalisation of the academy: Rhetoric, recent trends, and prospects (pp. 37–54). Dordrecht: Springer.
• Rostan, M., & Hohle, E. A. (2014). The international mobility of faculty. In F. Huang, M. Finkelstein, & M. Rostan (Eds.), The internationalisation of the academy: Rhetoric, recent trends, and prospects (pp. 79–104). Dordrecht: Springer.
• Sack, R., & Jalloun, O. (2017). Merging and demerging education ministries in Malaysia. International Higher Education, 88, 20–22.
• Sanderson, G. (2008). A foundation for the internationalisation of the academic self. Journal of Studies in International Education, 12(3), 276–307.
• Seeber, M., Cattaneo, M., Huisman, J., & Paleari, S. (2016). Why do higher education institutions internationalise? An investigation of the multilevel determinants of internationalisation rationales. Higher Education, 72(5), 685–702.
• Slipersaeter, S., & Aksens, D. W. (2010). The many ways of internationalisation: Patterns of R&D funding and collaboration. In A. Gornitzka, & L. Langfeldt (Eds.), Borderless knowledge: Understanding the “new” internationalisation of research and higher education in Norway (pp. 13–31). Dordrecht: Springer.
• Teichler, U., Arimoto, A., & Cummings, W. K. (2013). The changing academic profession. Dordrecht: Springer.
• Tran, L. T., & Nghia, T. L. H. (2020). Leadership in international education: Leaders’ professional development needs and tensions. Higher Education, 80, 479–495.
• van Der Wal, Z. (2017). The 21st century public manager. London: Palgrave.
• Wan, C. D., & Abdullah, D. (2021). Internationalisation of Malaysian higher education: Policies, practices and the SDGs. International Journal of Comparative Education and Development, 23(3), 212–226.
• Webber, L. W. (2012). Research productivity of foreign and US-born faculty: Differences by time on task. Higher Education, 64, 709–729.