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LoginShih Choon Fong elected--Any conflict of interest?
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Professor Shih Choon Fong current President of National University of Singapore since 2000.,is named
founding president of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia,''reported by the New York Times
to have an endowment of more than US$10 billion (S$14.3 billion), making it one of the world's 10 richest(university).''
1.Any conflict of interest since he is sitting in Presidential Search Committee?
There are many learned people in the committee.I hope they have made a right choice.But i do hope he does not cast any vote for himself!!
2.why did they not choose Nobel Prize winners
There are about 100 candidates.
It is normal for any new U to get a Nobel Prize winner to lift the reputation.
Why they do not follow the route?
3.What has he done caught the eyes of the Committee members
He broke tenure or golden rice bowls of many Professors!!... The changes he wrought in his first few years at the helm were controversial. These included a performance- and market-based pay system for academics.
Academics also complained that their colleagues who did research, especially that which could be commercialised, were valued over those who taught well.
Despite complaints reaching even Parliament, Prof Shih stood his ground, saying it was the only way NUS could attract and keep the academic talent needed for it to become world-class.
Prof Shih, who recognised from early on the importance of internationalising the university, sought alliances with top schools through university groupings such as the Association of Pacific Rim Universities, which counts among its members US institutions Stanford and the University of California, Berkeley.
Rumblings were also heard over the university abandoning British traditions for American ones under Prof Shih's tenure.
But his turning the yearly convocation ceremony into an American-style commencement had a positive outcome: It drew alumni back to the campus for the annual event and reconnected them with NUS. ...---Jan 14, 2008
NUS president to leave at the end of this year
By Sandra Davie,Strait Times
Many academic staff resigned to protest his new management!!
He said.how can i assess the staff in laws,history,medicine etc!!
4.Why NUS drops from 19 to 33 in global rankings not affecting The committee decision?
5.He once studied Professional Diploma in Engineering, Singapore Polytechnic
6.no more automatic increment...d. Staff management:
i. That a new remuneration system consisting of a basic component and other variable components reflecting differences in performance, responsibilities and market relativities be introduced,
ii. That salary scales for basic pay be replaced by salary ranges with no automatic annual increments,
iii. That the basic pay of Assistant Professors be increased by up to 20%, depending on the merit of each individual,
iv. That rigorous appraisal systems be instituted to set out expectations for staff members, help the universities and the staff members assess performance, and provide the necessary information to make decisions on rewards and recognition, from annual merit increments to promotions and the granting of tenure,... ..---EDUN N25-02-004,02600,3 July 2000
Government Accepts Recommendations on University Governance and Funding
the problems in western U is the academic staff once granted the
life tenure,their performance may drop...Edited by lionnoisy 19 Jan `08, 1:39PM
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Yup, I remember Dr Shih...
The move to shift NUS towards the more "American" model at that time was very quickly accompanied by this article talkingc0ck.com...
http://www.talkingc0ck.com/html/article.php?sid=935
(u may have to edit the URL... the forum's vulgarity shield blocks the URL cos of the word "c0ck...)
A lot of undergrads couldn't stand what he was doing to the uni... and it was totally hypocritical to want the "American" system which has a strong alumni network when they simply left undergrads to drown.
The frequent changes to the curriculum led to uncertainties on graduating requirements with some undergrads getting shortchanged... They thought it was a "double-degree" program, but it just changed so they just ended up with double-majors... lan lan lor...
Furthermore, American unis generous scholarships and funding... He's got NOTHING other than the standard tuition fee loan offered by the local banks... If u're a poor undergrad with no gov't or private scholarship, good luck! cos NUS dun pay for your fees for u, no matter how many "A"s u have...
Of course, u could fill up their stupid form, give them copies of your whole family's income tax returns to prove how friggin poor u are and hope to get a bursary...
AND!!! Lets not forget the infamous fee hikes under dear Dr. Shih... What a crook!
Dunno about other pple, but I think their frequent mailers to ask alumnis for donation is a bloody bad joke.Edited by CX 19 Jan `08, 3:33PM
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