As a professor, many are so preoccupied with meeting his research publication KPI that he has spent more time on the phone dealing and wheeling with fellow academics to find partners for his “collaborative” research than lecturing or mentoring his students. The rest of the time is spent on his sole valid research, with the bulk of the work being completed by his two best students. According to some local academics, the pressure to publish research papers – an important facet of the KPI in public universities – is creating an unhealthy intellectual culture.
Professor Dr Ahmad Ismail from Universiti Putra Malaysia biology department is also of the opinion that academic excellence cannot be measured by publications alone.
He strongly believes that other aspects of academia should be considered.
“Publication alone is not enough. Teaching and supervising of students, attending conferences and seminars, extension and dissemination of knowledge and new findings to the public (among others) make an academician complete.”
As a professor of wildlife ecology and ecotoxicology, his area of expertise does not lend itself well to publication.
“We would like our papers to be published in reputable, high-impact journals – but What is important is what we can contribute to our own country – at a local level. If you just concentrate on writing, then you are just a writer.
“A lecturer must develop areas of knowledge and then teach it to students, and not rely on textbooks alone.”
