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Editorial

Research - for God’s sake!
Z.A.M.H1. Zabidi-Hussin2

This is a familiar battle cry in academia. It’s a world-
wide phenomena and some says a mad crave. It
comes, usually as a top down decree from University
Vice Chancellors and seeps through to faculty Deans
and eventually ends on the cluttered table of profes-
sors and academics on the ground. It’s an academic
battle cry spurred by intense desire to participate in
international pursuit for research glory, Nobel Prize
and improved university rankings.

‘Instigated’ by reputable names in public media such
as The Times Higher Education Supplemenst and
several other agencies, such pursuits have pushed
some governments of the day to stare at their insti-
tutes of higher education and began flicking their
powerful fingers. “Common guys, we publicly fund
you. Get on with your research- for God’s Sake!!”
Slowly and surely the results are delivered, much
like the pangs of hard labour. It becomes a proud
show case for governments when universities under
their respective commands gain international recog-
nition as the ‘top 100 or 2 “in the chart of the ivy
league. World rankings bring other exploits. It
attracts more and in most cases, better international
students thus contributing to the ‘hub chase’,
enhancing the country’s standing as a hub for educa-
tion. High rankings also bring in good money,
investment on a variety of academic ventures such as
research and product development, yet again spin-
ning the country’s economic pursuit into a possible
state of heightened dizziness. 

Hence the ‘battle cry’. 
It is similar to the battle cry in history’s great wars,
neatly packaged as battles for academic strengths,

principles, glory and honour. 

Competing with the world best in research
“Olympics” require more than a battle cry and pow-
erful fingers. The United States of America, China,
Europe and Korea and several of the more advanced
countries in this league spend substantial sums of
money, time and resources to be in the circle of the
best. Backed by years of nurturing human talents
(imported, if necessary) these countries developed
the right fundamentals for strong research culture.
With research spending exceeding USD 100 billion
annually, the US , as an example, managed to ensure
dominance in research world rankings comfortably.
Countries in Asia, burdened by the need to address
health access and inequalities, malnutrition and
snailpace advances to improve the Milleaneum
Development Goals in maternal and Child parame-
ters naturally struggles to even smell the heaven of
research feat even with the availability of the  most
talented brains. The Gross Expenditure on R&D tp
GDP ratio of most Asian countries  is usually below1.
A except of cThat fundamentals also involved major
shift in attitude, some, predates an entry of a student
in University. Fundamentals of love of science and
knowledge enquiry have been developed even dur-
ing primary school days when attitude formation
starts.  Rote learning in early education will not help
nurture those budding talents into highly inquisitive
individuals with strong sense of research enquiry.
Period.

Refrrence
Pressure on Universities to achieve international
ranking

Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 12 No. 03 July’13

243

Corresponds to: Prof. ZAMH Zabidi-Hussin, Dept. Of Paediatrics, School of Medical
Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, KotaBharu, Kelantan, Malaysia.
Email: zabidi@kb.usm.my