Thursday, April 5, 2012

Understanding the Glossary of MyRA Instrument 1

One of the most important tools introduced by the Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia to assess research-related process and output is the MyRA instrument. In fact MyRA has been used to evaluate research universities in Malaysia. Public universities in particular are also required to report their MyRA score annually to the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE).
This entry hopes to examine the glossary attached to the MyRA instrument. The MyRA instrument is divided into nine different sections (Sections A to I). Section A provides the "General Information" on 3 very important data:(i) Number of academic staff inclusive of both permanent and contract staff, (ii) Total number of undergraduate and postgraduate fulltime students and (iii) Number of responsibility research centres. Section B, "Quantity and Quality of Researchers" focuses on four very important data sets: (i)Total number of academic staff involved as principal investigator. (ii)Total number of academic staff with PhD/professional qualification; (iii) Total number of research experienced staff and (iv) Stewardship recognition confererred by both national and international learned & professional bodies. Section C, "Quantity and Quality of Research" lists four important research products: (i)Publications classified into 6 groups (indexed, cummulative impact factor, cummulative citation, non-indexed journal publication, book chapters and research books; (ii) Research grants at university national and international levels; (iii) Research expenditure for each project and (iv) Post-doctoral appointment. Section D "Quantity and Quality of Post Graduates" looks for four different data: (i) Number of PhD Graduated, (ii) Number of PhD enrolled, (iii) Postgraduate enrolment and (iv) Percentage of international post graduate students. Section E "Quality of Post Graduates examines two crucial data: (i) Entry qualification at the Bachelor level and (ii) fellowship grants awarded to the post graduate students. Section F "Innovation" provides four pieces of information: (i) Patents filed/granted, (ii) Commercialized products, (iii) Technology knowhow licensing and (iv) IPR/Copyrights (including origional writings). Section G "Professional Services & Gifts" examines four sources of income generations and they include:(i)training including post graduate fees, (ii) Consultancy excluding contract research, (iii) Research endowment and (iv) Gifts (money or equipemet) in excess of RM5000. Section H "Networking and Linkages" details out nine groups of participations: (i) International institution participation in research-related activities, (ii) Membership in international bodies & associations, (iii) International projects, (iv) International fellowship and scholarships, (v) Members of international professional bodies, (vi) National inter-institution participation, (vii) Member of professional bodies and the national level, (viii) National projects and (ix)National fellowship/scholarship awards. Section I "Support facilities" requires information related to accredited laboratories and library facilities.

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