Research Assessment at Higher Learning Institutions in Malaysia

The research landscape in Malaysia evolved very quickly in the first decade of the new millennium with the country’s most established universities being accorded Research Universities (RU) status. Significantly higher research investments were made in the form of block grants to the RUs, in addition to funding by various agencies. A research assessment tool was developed to measure the research performance of the RUs, and was later applied to all universities. The parameters assessed are those relating to input or resources acquired by the institution that contribute directly to research, output coming directly from research, and some outcome of research. The measurements are primarily quantitative, and have not changed much over more than a decade. More qualitative measures which looks at process and impact is much needed as the universities’ roles extend beyond academia and research gets translated into the real world.