Increasing International Recognition For Private Educators

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 Well this is good news. Another Malaysian scientist / educator has won recognition internationally for her scientific and academic achievements. This time from Stanford University.




Dr. Wong is a medical practitioner. Her interests in leukaemia, stem cell and medical education research have yielded more than 30 publications in high-impact international journals and her works have been cited more than 2,000 times by researchers worldwide. - Photo credit Instagram/Segiedu
Dr. Rebecca Wong Shin Yee, Associate Professor of Physiology and Head of Preclinical Sciences at SEGi University's Faculty of Medicine, has been listed as one of the World's Top 2% Scientists by Stanford University
The list, published in Oct 2020, represents the top two per cent of the world's most-cited scientists in various disciplines.
She has also published five academic books in the field of physiology.
Dr. Wong is frequently invited to be a peer reviewer by many high-impact international journals such as PLoS ONE, Cell Biochemistry and Function, Journal of International Nanomedicine, Journal of Cell Science and Therapy, Journal of Stem Cell Research and Therapy, Cell Proliferation, Journal of Diabetes Research, Journal of Stem Cell Research and Therapy, Biomed Research International, Food and Function, Archives of Medical Research, Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy, Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, as well as Journal of International Medical Research.
BERNAMA
My comments :  Wonderful recognition indeed for our local scientists. It does put Malaysia on the radar as an education and science hub.
But this is private sector. More competitive and more vibrant. This should be happening in our public universities. Sadly it is not. Or not to the same level.
A few of our private universities are taking the path of excelling in research. Not only are they teaching universities but they are also focussing towards becoming research universities. 
In the United States (as an example) some universities are recognised for being teaching universities while others may be more research oriented. There is a huge amount of reasoning and justification for being a teaching university, a research university, a good mix of both etc. 
It is not just money but it is also philosophy. 
Teaching universities make substantial money from student fees. It keeps them going. In a technology intensive and industrial country like the US, research universities also attract significant money contributions (from government and private sector) to conduct research. 
So you can have smaller universities willing to pay top money for top research professors because they can attract top level funding from government and industry. 
Or you can have large universities with 50,000 fee paying students on campus. 
Considering that research funding is now quite international - meaning even local Malaysian universities should be able to attract international research funds - perhaps this will create a new scope for our local researchers. 
Congratulations are due to Dr Rebecca Wong for her achievements and may you achieve even higher accolades. 
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.
By Syed Akbar Ali 

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