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...