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The Apex agenda is not a matter that can be postponed although there are many challenges ahead.

USM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Tan Sri Dato’ Dzulkifli Abdul Razak said that the Apex agenda is a national aspiration, one that has to be achieved. This will enable all parties to ensure that the institutions of higher learning in the country are transformed.

In view of this, he said, universities must be given autonomy so that they can move fast and implement their respective agendas.

“USM as the first uiniversity to be selected for the APEX Programme, has no option other than to succeed as it cannot depend on others to carry out its agenda. The process of transforming an organisation is not an easy task. Without autonomy and if we were to continue to depend on others, it will be impossible for USM to achieve success within a short time,” he said.

He said this at the press conference after delivering his speech during the Vice-Chancellor’s Annual Address 2010 in USM here, today.

He added that USM has to reduce its dependency and stop compromising to ensure that the momentum of the APEX agenda continues to be maintained.

“We have to make swift decisions and take full responsibility for them. The process of transformation is no easy task as we can neither look back nor put these efforts on hold. We also cannot compromise too much as the next three years to ensure the success of the first phase of the APEX Programme is not that far off,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Prof. Tan Sri Dzulkifli stressed that there are numerous challenges that have to be faced in making this mission a success, one of which is public awareness of the true nature of the APEX programme.

“Sometimes, we feel as if we are alone in our struggle to make APEX a success. This is because there are many out there who fail to understand our true objectives. A good example is their obsession with evaluating USM in terms of ranking. Ranking is in no way linked to APEX because in the APEX programme, we are attempting to change the perception towards ranking. We are trying to create an institute of higher learning that is unique, one that does not adhere to predetermined models,” he said.

He added that changing the public’s perception is a challenge that has to be handled wisely. The university will do everything it can to provide world-class higher education.

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