We don’t have ‘express PhD’, says Unimas

Vice-chancellor says university has strict vetting procedure when assessing candidates

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) vice-chancellor Prof Dr Khairuddin Abdul Hamid answered with a firm “no” when reporters asked yesterday if there were shortcuts to getting a degree in the university.

“We, as a university, place great emphasis on the quality of our students. There is a strict procedure and process before an applicant is accepted to do his PhD in this university. We look at his academic qualifications as well as other relevant experience, if any.

“Depending on which area of research he wants to pursue, we will appoint the relevant faculty to take him in,” Khairuddin said during the university’s Ramah Tamah Aidilfitri yesterday.

Khairuddin also pointed out that an applicant would also have to prepare a research proposal and a committee would evaluate the proposal to decide whether he had the ability and standard to do a PhD.

He said the university would only allow him to register as student if the committee was satisfied.

“The duration of study for a PhD is three years full-time at the minimum. It will take five to seven years if a student does it part-time. We do not just give away PhD to people,” he elaborated, adding there was no such thing as “express PhD” in Unimas.

Earlier in his welcoming speech, Khairuddin congratulated the chairman of the Unimas board of directors Tan Sri Datuk Amar Bujang Mohd Noor, who was present at the

open house, on his being awarded as Tokoh 1Malaysia by the prime minister recently.

He also announced that Unimas had won one gold, one silver and three bronze medals during the International Research and Inventions Expo for Institutions of Higher Learning (PETICTA) this month.

Unimas also won first prize at the recent Asia Pacific ICT Awards, he added.

According to Khairuddin, the theme for this year’s open house was based on the concept of ‘Melayu Tradisional’ which was why food and drinks were placed in stalls that were decorated to look like Malay houses.

These stalls were creatively decorated by faculties, institutes, centres and departments from the university.

The purpose of the open house was to inculcate the spirit of togetherness and cooperation among staff who mingled around and enjoyed the open house delicacies.

Guests were entertained with games, Hari Raya songs and karaoke sessions.

Also present at the event were deputy vice-chancellor Prof Dr Fatimah Abang and deputy vice-chancellor of student affairs and alumni Prof Madya Mohd Fadzil Abd Rahman.

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