No Tampering of Examination Marks: UTAR President
J-on
|
Monday, July 19, 2010
|
Share this post on Facebook
Petaling Jaya, July 18 - UTAR president Datuk Prof Dr Chuah Hean Teik denied there was tampering of examination marks as alleged in an online news portal and stressed that the university’s senate complied with various quality control requirements.
Among the measures are having external examiners and frequent board of examination meetings.
“The low number of first class honours recipients shows Utar’s commitment to quality standards,” he said, adding that only 7.8% of the 2,570 graduates at next month’s convocation would receive first class honours," he said.
Chuah said UTAR had maintained a tradition of excellence and surveys showed that more than 97% of its students found employment within six months of graduating.
He added that in order to maintain the university’s excellent performance and results, academicians should also work equally hard.
“UTAR is a university and not a teaching college. People must understand this and research and development has to be a priority.
“The academic staff may be required to work harder and submit research papers but this is the standard procedure at any university,” he said, pointing out that UTAR had adequate research facilities with RM18mil invested over the last five years.
Chuah said all of UTAR’s degree programmes were audited by local or overseas external examiners, who would visit the varsity and provide feedback as to whether the courses were up to par with quality standards.
On a report in an online news portal about an exodus of UTAR’s academic staff due to several new policies, inadequate research facilities and the universitiy’s high-handed approach, Chuah said this was very unfair.
“My staff told me a reporter called to ask about the alleged staff turnover rate – nothing more.
There were no questions regarding the tampering of marks or the state of UTAR’s research facilities.
“How can one write such things without checking thoroughly?” he said.
Chuah also claimed that things had been blown out of proportion about the high turnover rate.
“UTAR had a staff of 800 when I first joined and there are more than 1,400 now. This is not possible if 30% of our academic staff and 70% of our support staff leave,” he said.
However, he acknowledged that there had been some inertia to on-going changes in UTAR, particularly in the area of research and development.
“It is understandable that not everyone is happy with the growing emphasis on research but one or two unhappy staff members cannot speak for the whole varsity,” he said.
Chuah assumed duties as UTAR president in March 2008.
-- The Star
