Academic culture in Malaysia: sources of satisfaction and frustration

Asia Pacific Education Review - Tập 16 - Trang 517-526 - 2015
Chang Da Wan1, David W. Chapman2, Ahmad Nurulazam Md Zain1, Sigrid Hutcheson3, Molly Lee4, Ann E. Austin5
1National Higher Education Research Institute (IPPTN), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Bayan Lepas, Malaysia
2Birkmaier Professor of Educational Leadership, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
3Independent Consultant, Minneapolis, USA
4Universiti Sains Malaysia, Bayan Lepas, Malaysia
5Erickson Professor of Higher, Adult and Lifelong Learning, 419A Erickson Hall, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA

Tóm tắt

This paper examines the sources of satisfaction and frustration among Malaysian academics across three types of higher education institutions (HEIs)—public research university, public comprehensive university and private non-profit university. Based on interview with 67 academics across six HEIs, there is a clear pattern and relationship between the sources of satisfaction and frustration and the types of institutions these academics were affiliated. The major sources of satisfaction are related to the nature of academic work, which includes supervising, mentoring, teaching and interacting with students, as well as conducting research and disseminating knowledge through publication. However, the major sources of frustration are predominantly related to the governance of higher education, resulting from unrealistic expectations, lack of transparency of the promotion and reward system, and a strong bureaucratic culture. The understanding of satisfaction and frustration has helped us to understand issues of morale, retention and, possibly, productivity of academics across these HEIs, and in turn, the understanding of these issues about academics has implications in understanding the governing structure of HEIs. Although this study is limited only to HEIs in Malaysia, the findings have wider implications in contributing to the understanding of governance and academic culture in the broader context of higher education.

Tài liệu tham khảo

Altbach, P. G. (2013). Advancing the national and global knowledge economy: The roles of research universities in developing countries. Studies in Higher Education, 38(3), 316–330.

Clark, B. R. (1987). The academic profession: National, disciplinary, and institutional settings. Berkeley: University of California Press.

Department of Higher Education, Malaysia (DHE). (2011). Categories of public HEIs. Retrieved September 9, 2014, from http://jpt.mohe.gov.my/eng/.

Enders, J., & de Weert, E. (2009). Introduction. In J. Enders & E. de Weert (Eds.), The changing face of academic life: Analytical and comparative perspectives (pp. 1–12). New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

Fairweather, J. S. (1993). Academic values and faculty rewards. Review of Higher Education, 17(91), 43–68.

Gardner, S. K. (2013). Women faculty departures from a striving institution: Between a rock and a hard place. Review of Higher Education, 36(3), 349–370.

Hagedorn, L. S. (2000). Conceptualizing faculty job satisfaction: Components, theories, and outcomes. In L. S. Hagedorn (Ed.), What contributes to job satisfaction among faculty and staff? New Directions for Institutional Research, No 105 (pp. 5–20). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Herzberg, F. (1964). The motivation-hygiene concept and problems of manpower. Personnel Administrator, 27, 3–7.

Herzberg, F. (2003). One more time: How do you motivate employees? Harvard business review. https://hbr.org/2003/01/one-more-time-how-do-you-motivate-employees.

Herzberg, F., Mausner, B., & Snyderman, B. (1959). The motivation to work (2nd ed.). New York: Wiley.

Miles, M. B., & Huberman, A. M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis: An expanded sourcebook (2nd ed.). London: Sage.

Ministry of Education. (2014a). National education statistic: Higher education sector 2013. Putrajaya: MOE.

Ministry of Education. (2014b). Impact of Malaysian Research Universities as the engine of growth for nation building. Bandar Baru Nilai: USIM Publisher.

Ministry of Higher Education. (2006). Report by the committee to study, review and make recommendations concerning the development and direction of higher education in Malaysia. Shah Alam: University Publication Centre (UPENA).

Morshidi, S., Abdul, R. A., & Norzaini, A. (2012). University leadership in crisis: The need for effective leadership positioning in Malaysia. Higher Education Policy, 25, 511–529.

Norzaini, A., Morshidi, S., & Muhammad, J. (2011). Malaysia: Perspectives of University governance and management within the academic profession. In W. Locke, W. K. Cummings, & D. Fisher (Eds.), Changing governance and management in higher education: The perspectives of the academy (pp. 83–105). London: Springer.

O’Meara, K. A., & Bloomgarden, A. (2011). The Pursuit of Prestige: The experience of institutional striving from a faculty perspective. The Journal of the Professoriate, 4(1), 39–73.

Pang, V. (2014). Teaching and learning in higher education in Malaysia: Aspirations and realities. Paper presented at the seminar on higher education research policy, Penang.

Perkin, H. (1969). Key profession: The history of the association of university teachers. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.

Punch, K. F. (2005). Introduction to social research: Quantitative and qualitative approaches (2nd ed.). London: Sage.

Sergiovanni, T. J. (1966). Investigation of factors which affect job satisfaction and job dissatisfaction of teachers. Journal of Management, 28(23), 25.

Volkwein, J. F., & Sweitzer, K. V. (2006). Institutional prestige and reputation among research universities and liberal arts colleges. Research in Higher Education, 47(2), 129–148.

Wan, C. D., & Abdul Razak, A. (2015). Governance of higher education in Malaysia. In K. M. Joshi & S. Paivandi (Eds.), Global higher education: Issues in governance. Delhi: B. R. Publishing, pp. 339–379.

Wolf-Wendel, L. E., & Ward, K. (2005) Faculty life at comprehensives: Between a rock and a hard place. Paper presented at the annual conference of the association for the study of higher education, Philadelphia.

Wolf-Wendel, L. E., & Ward, K. (2006). Academic life and motherhood: Variations by institutional type. Higher Education, 52, 487–521.

World Bank. (2013). Malaysia economic monitor: High-performing education. Bangkok: World Bank Office.

Thông tin
Thông tin xuất bản

Asia Pacific Education Review

Tập 16

517-526

Thông tin tác giả