KUALA LUMPUR, March 1 — Local public universities should rethink their decision not to renew the contracts of professors aged above 60 even though their allocations from the government have been slashed, say the National Council of Professors (NCP) and retired academics.

They say letting go of the experienced scholars may prove counterproductive as they are still in their prime and can contribute to the development of the universities concerned, as well as conduct research activities.

NCP Chief Executive Officer Datuk Dr Raduan Che Rose said the universities should look for ways to retain experienced and skilled academics although they were facing financial constraints.

“We know that these institutions are in a dilemma in view of the current economic scenario. We don’t wish to interfere in their affairs but with regard to this issue, all the parties involved should think in terms of national development and the fact that knowledge is one of the thrusts of growth. Don’t allow money to become a stumbling block,” he told Bernama.

Raduan had said last week that 156 or 33 per cent of 507 contract professors, aged between 61 and 70, at public universities did not have their contracts renewed due to budget cuts.

Commenting on this, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said the government would consider reviewing the retirement age for professors at public universities, which is currently 60. He also said that as autonomous bodies, universities were free to decide on any matter related to their professors’ contract renewals.

Under Budget 2016, tabled last October, the annual allocation for public universities was reduced by 16.5 per cent, with the cuts affecting 19 out of 20 varsities.

Amend retirement age

Raduan said currently a total 1,895 professors were attached to the various public universities in the country and they comprised only seven per cent of the institutions’ total academic staff of 33,000.

In contrast, public universities in other countries have at least 20 to 30 per cent of their academic staff made up of professors, he pointed out.

“Our nation is certainly in need of more researchers, intellectuals and thinkers... and we don’t want a situation where professors are unable to offer their services after they turn 60. In fact, they can contribute a great deal to the nation’s development and the academia, and also become mentors for young lecturers,” he said.

Stressing that the official civil service retirement age of 60 should not be applied to professors, Raduan said their expertise and knowledge would otherwise be wasted.

“It’s a real pity if professors aged above 60 are not rehired. In fact, some of them who are in their 70s are still active. Why can’t they continue serving as long they remain healthy?”  He added that the retirement age for professors should be raised to 65 as was the practice internationally.

“The scholarly profession deserves more recognition and the government should address any issues confronting this profession. As such, it should increase the retirement age for professors.

“NCP, in fact, accords high recognition to all its members... they continue to be members of the council even after retirement. This is because their professor title never retires... once a professor, forever a professor,” he said.

Loss of expertise

Former Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Vice Chancellor Prof Tan Sri Dr Sharifah Hapsah Syed Hasan Shahabudin also agreed that universities should not let their professors go, particularly those attached to critical faculties.

Urging the institutions to find the means to extend the contracts of staff  whose expertise was still required, she said during her tenure in UKM, the university had experienced budget cuts too but it managed to pull through without any problems.

“But, of course, each university has strict criteria when deciding on contract renewals. For sure, they will only rehire professors who are really active and brilliant in various aspects,” said Sharifah Hapsah, who is now senior consultant to the Prime Minister’s Department.

She also said that private institutions of higher learning usually waste no time in snapping up “marketable” public-sector academics whose contracts were not renewed.

“For the public varsities concerned, it’s a great loss of valuable expertise when they let their professors go,” she said. — Bernama