Friday, January 28, 2011

HICoE Bigger Role

In his New Year Speech delivered recently, the YB Minister of Higher Education Dato' Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin noted some very pertinent messages related to the roles and functions of the HICoEs within the Government Transformation Program. HICoEs are expected to form international research consortiums with renowned research centres to conduct research projects within their niche research areas. They must be international players that can place Malaysia on the world map. In tandem with this aspiration, HICoEs are expected to produce "Roadmap" that would allow them to be autonomous by the end of 2013. Though this is a tall order, I personally believe that it can be achieved, HICoEs just need to remain focused. For ARI, our niche research areas are namely Islamic Accounting & Finance and Financial Criminology. For 2011, each research project will involve a collaboration with at least one international partner....