Sunday, December 19, 2010

World Class University with World Class Professors?

Sometimes in its efforts to build up a university's brand name, a university might starts to recruit "star" professors with great recognitions. However, how can you truly classify someone as being world class? I found this visiting senior lecturer in University Malaya.

http://umexpert.um.edu.my/cv_papar.php?id=4f6acf01c00fb6ed4a666ee996504553

Look at his achievements and recognitions. You might be impressed until you slap yourself and look at the actual awards and honours. They are mostly awarded by International Biographic Centre (IBC). I googled it and found this

"The Department of Commerce of the Government of Western Australia classified the Centre's offers as a scam and said:

The material promoting the International Biographical Centre creates a false impression about the credentials of the organisation. It also wrongly implies that the receiver of the letter has been picked through a special research process considering their work and qualifications".

Hmmm…being lazy, I tried not to search a list of all the impressive awards listed there. However, since this guy was given the best scientist award, he must have lots of publications. However, to search his name through web of science and scopus would greatly disadvantaged him, as his journals might not be listed in these databases. So I tried google scholar, and keyed in "Akcell Chiang Chii-Chung". How many papers? THREE. Well, try it yourself and you might even argued that it is only 1. Now, outstanding scientist who has 3 publications… HMMMMMMMMM……

I mean if you go through the list, there are hell lots of interesting awards. IBC Hall of Fame, Top 100 Scientists, etc. But what is interesting is that he only obtained his PhD in 2008. SO…. A phd grad in 2008, and a hall of famer in the field? You must be freaking Einstein.. even Einstein spent his early years working in a patent office before getting some recognitions later on.

NOW, is this what Prof. Ghauth Jasmon, VC of UM, has been promoting in terms of attracting the "Best" academics to join UM????


 

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