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UKM now ranked way ahead of UM
PETALING JAYA: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) has supplanted Universiti Malaya (UM) as the country’s highest ranked university in the latest survey conducted on world university rankings.
In World University Rankings 2006 published by the Times Higher Education Supplement and conducted by QS Quacquarelli Symonds, UKM rose by 105 places to break into the top 200-ranked universities for the first time, climbing from 289 last year to 185.
UM, however, continued its downward spiral, by dropping a further 23 places to 192. Its ranking fell from 89 in 2004 to 169 last year, causing a national debate on the status of the premier university and the validity of the criteria used for the rankings.
The British newspaper's annual rankings are based on measures like peer review (40%), employer survey (10%), international faculty (5%), international students (5%), staff to student ratio (20%), and the number of times research is cited by other academics (20%). Details of this year's criteria are not yet available.
Former UKM vice-chancellor Datuk Dr Mohd Salleh Mohd Yasin, who retired in August this year, attributed UKM’s current standing to the joint effort by everyone in the university.
“We focused on raising the university’s profile internationally. We also made a concerted effort to improve UKM’s website and consolidate the information there,” said Dr Mohd Salleh, who is currently chairman of the National Accreditation Board.
Universiti Sains Malaysia and Universiti Putra Malaysia also improved in this year’s standings – UPM rose by 102 places from 394 to 292, while USM climbed from 326 to 277.
When contacted, current UKM vice-chancellor Datuk Dr Sharifah Hapsah Syed Hasan Shahabudin and UM vice-chancellor Datuk Rafiah Salim declined comment, saying that they would speak at a press conference at UM today.
Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang described this year’s results as a double shame for UM.
“Not only did it slide further but UM also fell behind UKM. This is unacceptable for Malaysia's premier university. There is need for a shake-up,” he said.
He added that although UKM should be commended for its place in this year’s rankings, Malaysia’s top public universities should rank among the top 50.
It has been reported that the Ministry has set a target for two public universities to break into the top 50 by 2010.
Lim attributed Malaysian universities' poor ranking to the failure of the institutions “to practise real meritocracy in academic appointments and promotions, as well as in student intake.”
Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed could not be reached for comment.
At the top of the rankings is Harvard University, which retained its position. However, Massachusetts Institute of Technology lost its number two position to Cambridge University.
British and American universities took all the places in the top 10. The highest placed Asian university is China’s Beijing University, at 14. The University of Tokyo and the National University of Singapore were joint 19th, the only other Asian universities in the top 20.
I enjoyed the movie inmmensely. It's full of wit, sarcasm and a whole lot of bitchiness. The story is all about Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), high-end fashion magazine editor and her new assistant, Andrea (Anne Hathaway). Andrea is simply given hell by Miranda as she tries her best to cope with the fashion world that her new job, as second assistant to Miranda, revolves around. She initially resists changing to suit her job but when she does, she finds herself doing immensely well up to the point she displaces Miranda's first assistant. She begins to become more of a workaholic and soon starts to neglect her family, friends and boyfriend. That is when she has to choose between her new career and her old life. The ending is of course sappily good, making sure you will leave the cinema with a life lesson learned.
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These are all what's left after the video got deleted. Just two screen shots. I masked his face because until he is caught and declared guilty he is still innocent.I am no judge and he still has his rights.
This is sixth and the last book in the Ramayana series by Ashok K. Banker. Frankly it is a very big letdown. I personally feel that as the books go by, the quality goes down in a way. After the the tale culminates after five books, the climax in this book is just disappointing.
The great crocodile hunter is dead apparently. I don't know how true this may be but it is in The Star papers. Actually I already heard alot of rumours since last year saying he's dead in many incidents and all, but all those turned out to be untrue. Could this be for real? Anyway, just to give him special mention on my blog for being a great host of the show I loved. He always seemed a tad reckless anway so I think maybe his luck just ran out somehow this time. It's reported that the cause of his death is a stringray. Maybe the crocodile hunter should have stick to hunting crocs. G'day mate!
I know many people find it to be boring and rather plain but I enjoyed it. It's a great love story with an added element of fantasy in it. Being a lover of all things pertaining to magic I found it to be really enjoyable.
I was done reading it weeks ago but didn't have the time to write a review. Didn't even have time to start another book. Well, now I do. So here goes.
Finally it's over. After months of hard work it all paid off when the event was a great success. I was the secretary, involved in the publicity and then finally had to emcee. Fights broke out and arguements ensued during the process but we all manage to overcome our differences to make it all happen. Kudos to all my coursemates. You guys and gals are really made out of good stuff. After spending so much of our waking hours organizing it, when now it is over we kinda don't know what to do with our free time. Suddenly we have so much time on our hands to do as we please.
1. Him being cute before the drug
2. Him asleep and snoring.
3. Him up and running after the drug wore off.
| Your Five Factor Personality Profile |
 Extroversion: You have medium extroversion. You're not the life of the party, but you do show up for the party. Sometimes you are full of energy and open to new social experiences. But you also need to hibernate and enjoy your "down time." Conscientiousness: You have high conscientiousness. Intelligent and reliable, you tend to succeed in life. Most things in your life are organized and planned well. But you borderline on being a total perfectionist. Agreeableness: You have low agreeableness. Your self interest comes first, and others come later, if at all. In general, you feel that people are not to be trusted. And you're skeptical that anyone else really feels differently. Neuroticism: You have medium neuroticism. You're generally cool and collected, but sometimes you do panic. Little worries or problems can consume you, draining your energy. Your life is pretty smooth, but there's a few emotional bumps you'd like to get rid of. Openness to experience: Your openness to new experiences is medium. You are generally broad minded when it come to new things. But if something crosses a moral line, there's no way you'll approve of it. You are suspicious of anything too wacky, though you do still consider creativity a virtue. |
This is the writing on my cake before it promptly ended up on my face.
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 You have the attitude and self esteem to take on anything. Failure is beyond not an option for you - it doesn't even cross your mind. People envy your ability to take on any challenge ... and they're secretly afraid you think you're better than them. You don't. You're just sure of yourself. |
