University's role transcends mere creation of 'labour force'

University's role transcends mere creation of 'labour force' - Mohammad Tariqur Rahman

In the ever-evolving landscape of higher education, universities are called upon to reassess their traditional roles and expand their horizons beyond the simple production of 'human capital' for future generations. This shift is crucial in an era marked by global conflicts and rapid industrial change.

The primary objective of universities is to foster graduates whose knowledge and skills are in sync with current and emerging industrial needs, contributing to economic prosperity. However, economic success devoid of humanity's spirit can be detrimental, and it is essential to uphold the values of humanity alongside economic growth.

Amartya Sen's human capability approach underscores the importance of human skills, distinguishing three key consequences: direct influence on well-being, indirect effect through social change, and indirect effect through economic production. This approach emphasizes the need for universities to cultivate graduates who are not only economically competent but also socially conscious and nationally committed.

To achieve this, universities worldwide are building three pillars: administrative justice, academic and research excellence, and professional integrity. The strength of the administrative justice pillar ensures that everyone is rewarded for their commitment and recognized for their competency. A stronger pillar of academic and research excellence means the academic curriculum and research agenda will generate socially conscious, nationally committed, and globally competent output. A stronger professional integrity pillar ensures that everyone remains morally conscious, ethically committed, and legally competent.

However, the race for global university rankings and the focus on ranking indicators can lead academic staff and researchers into relying on unethical means to numerically fulfil performance indicators. To counteract this, a holistic revival of university education requires a university to operate on the foundations of commitment, competence, and consciousness.

To make each pillar stronger, the university should devise specific action plans that instil the foundations of commitment, consciousness, and competence in everyone connected to the university. This includes students, academic staff, and administrative employees.

The author, Deputy Executive Director (Development, Research & Innovation) at International Institute of Public Policy and Management (INPUMA), Universiti Malaya, emphasizes the importance of this shift. He can be reached at [email protected].

The human capital theory, first proposed by Adam Smith and John Stuart Mill, argues that education requires investment, which yields future returns. However, the commitment to serve society and humanity is being lost due to a mere focus on 'human capital' and numerical targets. Notable scholars like Alfred Marshall, who removed the term 'personal capital' from his later editions of Principles of Economics, underscored the need for a broader perspective.

The signalling theory, developed by Andrew Michael Spence, suggests that more talented individuals can signal their talent through higher educational degrees, leading to better-paid jobs. However, this theory should not overshadow the importance of ethical conduct and the pursuit of knowledge for its intrinsic value.

In conclusion, universities must strive to redefine their roles, prioritizing humanity and integrity alongside economic prosperity. This redefinition will ensure that universities produce graduates who are not only economically competent but also socially conscious, ethically committed, and globally competent.

University's role transcends mere creation of 'labour force' - Mohammad Tariqur Rahman