Latest news with #UM
The Star
12 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Deserving students priced out
Cause for concern: Dr Wee (centre) showing a list of courses run by several public universities with higher tuition fees offered through the open entry route during a press conference in Kuala Lumpur. With him are (from left) MCA Youth national exco Tay Kok Wea, Wanita MCA Beliawanis chief Ivonne Low Yi Wen, Wanita MCA deputy chief Tee Hooi Ling and Wanita MCA Selangor Beliawanis bureau chief Joclyn Leong Fong Yi. — LOW LAY PHON/The Star KUALA LUMPUR: The rising reliance on direct or open entry routes into public universities is drawing criticism for creating financial barriers that exclude deserving students, especially those from underprivileged and middle-income backgrounds. 'We must re-evaluate this system when public universities begin to act like private institutions, moving away from their noble goal of helping bright students, particularly from underprivileged backgrounds, succeed,' MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said at a press conference yesterday. He said the issue now extends beyond Universiti Malaya (UM), as other institutions such as Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and Universiti Utara Malaysia are also adopting similar practices. Dr Wee said the way these open channels operate is concerning, as it prioritises financial capability over academic merit, undermining the foundational ethos of public education. On Tuesday, Dr Wee highlighted UM's sharp fee increase under its Saluran Terbuka Universiti Malaya direct admission channel. For the 2025/2026 session, fees for medical and other critical courses soared by 67.1%, rising from RM299,200 to RM500,000. In contrast, students entering via the government-subsidised UPUOnline channel pay only RM15,000 for the same programme. Dr Wee noted that many parents had contacted him to share their concerns after he brought attention to the UM case. 'Their children applied through the UPUOnline system, only to receive an acceptance offer contingent on paying up to RM300,000 through the open channel. 'This financial burden is insurmountable for most families, turning what should be a joyous occasion into one of despair,' he said. Dr Wee stressed that public universities are funded by taxpayers, with Parliament approving annual budgets to cover staff salaries and operational costs. While acknowledging that the funding may not be sufficient for all development expenses, he said this should not come at the expense of deserving students who qualify through the UPUOnline system. Citing a previous parliamentary reply, Dr Wee said 19% to 40% of public university placements now come from open channels, highlighting a systemic issue that could erode the very foundation of Malaysia's public education system. 'I firmly believe that UPUOnline should remain the primary and most important channel for enrolment in public universities. 'This ensures admissions are based on merit rather than financial ability, thus promoting social mobility and allowing underprivileged students to transform their lives through quality and affordable education,' he said. The current trajectory, he warned, risks turning the education system into an elitist one, where only the financially privileged can access quality education. Dr Wee said the total cost of completing a medical degree at a public university has surged from about RM300,000 to over RM500,000, exceeding the fees charged by some private institutions. 'Similar hikes of 20% to 30% have been observed in other professional courses like law, raising questions as to whether public universities still prioritise talent development or have shifted towards a quasi-private model. 'While direct admissions can exist, public universities should expand their intake instead of using slots meant for UPUOnline students,' he said. Dr Wee urged the government to establish a royal commission of inquiry to review these practices. 'We cannot allow financial capability to replace academic merit in determining university admissions. 'The government should intervene immediately to prevent further inequality in access to higher education. 'It should remain a public right, not a privilege,' he said, calling for the open channel intake to be halted.
Miami Herald
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Miami Hurricanes land another four-star recruit. Details on the newest 2026 commitment
Four-star prospect Anthony Kennedy Jr. on Friday became the Miami Hurricanes' seventh commitment in the past week, giving UM a behemoth defensive tackle in a 2026 class that's shaping up as one of the nation's best. The Arkansas-based Kennedy, who's 6-3 and 335 pounds, visited UM in late May and picked the Hurricanes over SMU and Missouri. A senior-to-be at Little Rock Central High, Kennedy was committed to Missouri for five months (last December through mid May) before de-committing after the resignation of Tigers defensive line coach Al Davis. He visited Missouri last weekend but opted for Miami. Both 247 Sports and rate him the No. 36 defensive lineman in the 2026 class. places him 383rd among all prospects. But his stock has continued to rise, as college programs perpetually search for difficult-to-move defensive tackles who can stop the run. According to 247 Sports, Kennedy had offers from Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Texas, Texas A&M and UF, among others. Hurricanes defensive line coach Jason Taylor previously visited Kennedy in Arkansas, setting the wheels in motion for Kennedy's official visit a month ago. Kennedy joins Alabama-based Tyson Bacon as the second defensive lineman among Miami's 19 commitments for 2026. Of UM's seven commitments in the past week, six are members of UM's 2026 class, which has risen to sixth in the 247 rankings. The 2026 commitments earlier this week: tight end Israel Briggs, receivers Vance Spafford and Tyran Evans, linebacker Justin Edwards and edge player Asharri Charles.
The Star
17 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
UM consumer sentiment index rises for first time in 6 months
CHICAGO, June 27 (Xinhua) -- The Consumer Sentiment Index released Friday by the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers rose to 60.7 in the June 2025 survey, up from 52.2 in May and below last June's 68.2. The UM consumer sentiment has improved for the first time in six months. The Current Index rose to 64.8 in June, up from 58.9 in May and below last June's 65.9; the Expectations Index rose to 58.1, up from 47.9 in May and below last June's 69.6. Labor market expectations improved in June but remain considerably worse than at the beginning of the year. About 57 percent of consumers expect unemployment to rise in the year ahead, down from 66 percent in March but still much higher than the 40 percent seen in December 2024. Expectations for consumers' own income growth improved modestly in June, but June readings were worse than six months ago. Expectations for personal finances soared 17 percent from near historic lows in May but were 17 percent below December 2024. Beliefs about the anticipated effects of tariffs have shaped consumers' views of the economy this year. In June, about 59 percent of consumers provided unsolicited comments about tariffs, down from 66 percent in May but marking three consecutive months a majority of consumers did so. The share of consumers expecting business conditions to worsen in the year ahead fell from 64 percent in May but stood high at 55 percent, compared with just 29 percent in November 2024. "Consumers feel they have some breathing room given that the historically high tariffs announced earlier this year have not been sustained, and the worst-case scenarios for the economy have not come to fruition," said economist Joanne Hsu, director of the University of Michigan's Survey of Consumers. "However, consumers still worry that higher inflation and an economic slowdown are on the horizon, and they remain very cautious." The Surveys of Consumers is a rotating panel survey based on a nationally representative sample that gives each household in the coterminous United States an equal probability of being selected. Interviews are conducted throughout the month by telephone.
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
UM: No 'backdoor' entry in dual admission system
KUALA LUMPUR: Universiti Malaya (UM) has dismissed allegations of inequality in its dual admissions process, saying that the data cited by MCA to question the meritocracy of the system was "misleading." UM vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Seri Dr Noor Azuan Abu Osman said the figures presented by the MCA president concerning the increase in undergraduate enrolments via the UM Open Channel (Saluran Terbuka Universiti Awam, or Satu) from 2018 to 2022 failed to take into account the full context of the university's admissions framework. His response came in the wake of remarks made by Ayer Hitam member of Parliament Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong in a video posted on June 24. In the video, Wee called for the suspension of UM's Satu intake for the 2025/2026 session until the higher education ministry reviews its admissions mechanism, following claims of structural inequality. This was as Wee had launched a position paper by MCA on the matter, in which the party said the apparent selectiveness in UM's student admissions raised questions about meritocracy in the process. "In fact, the number of students admitted through the main channel (UPU) remains consistent every year and continues to meet intake projections set by the Higher Education Ministry," he said. "There has been no reduction in UPU quota or displacement of UPU candidates as a result of the alternative Satu route," he said. Noor Azuan said that UM uses two separate channels to admit students into its undergraduate programmes: UPU, which is managed by the Higher Education Ministry; and Satu, which offers an alternative route for qualified applicants with the ability to self-fund their studies. He said all admissions, whether via UPU or Satu, are merit-based, and that no shortcuts or backdoor entries are allowed. "Satu is not a backdoor, but an additional door. It expands opportunities and strengthens the system without closing the path for deserving students." He said the dual-channel approach was a strategic response to growing demand for limited placements in critical programmes such as medicine, dentistry and pharmacy. "UPU is highly competitive, and many excellent students are turned away due to limited capacity. Satu creates additional seats without affecting UPU quotas." He added that the initiative also aimed to curb the outflow of local talent overseas, noting that many Malaysian students had been forced to pursue costly medical studies abroad. "With Satu, they can now study in Malaysia, closer to their families and cultural roots, reducing brain drain and enhancing the supply of local talent." Noor Azuan also pointed out that the use of alternative admission pathways was in line with global practices, citing examples from the United Kingdom, Australia, Indonesia and the United States. On the recent fee hikes for students under the Satu channel, he said the adjustments were necessary to reflect the actual cost of providing high-quality medical education, particularly clinical training and the maintenance of teaching hospital facilities. "The revised fees apply only to Satu students and do not affect the government's subsidy for UPU students, who continue to enjoy up to 95 per cent tuition support." He acknowledged the financial concerns raised by some quarters but assured that no deserving student would be denied access to education due to financial hardship. "Scholarships, financial aid, and welfare assistance will continue to be made available and expanded." Noor Azuan said the university welcomed suggestions to expand UPU quotas for medical and other critical programmes, but said that such decisions must be approved by professional bodies such as the Malaysian Medical Council, Pharmacy Board and Dental Council. "UM remains open to engagement with these bodies to ensure national needs are met. The university is not just a centre of learning, but a place of hope for the future." He reaffirmed UM's commitment to transparency, meritocracy and social equity, adding that the university had no intention of engaging in polemics but felt compelled to correct public misconceptions.
The Star
a day ago
- Business
- The Star
High public uni fees pricing out deserving students, says Dr Wee
KUALA LUMPUR: The increasing use of direct or open entry routes into public universities is raising concerns over high costs that are progressively pricing out deserving students from underprivileged and middle-income backgrounds. "We must re-evaluate this system when public universities begin to act commercially, deviating from their original noble goal of ensuring that bright students—especially those from low-income families—are allowed to succeed," said Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong at a press conference here. The MCA president highlighted the growing trend of public universities offering courses through open channels at exorbitant tuition fees. "This issue extends beyond Universiti Malaya. Other universities like USM, UKM, UPM, UTM, and UUM are following similar practices. "The shift towards these open channels is concerning, as it prioritises financial capability over academic merit, undermining the foundational ethos of public education," he said. On Tuesday (June 24), Dr Wee highlighted the sharp increase in UM's medicine and other critical field degrees fees for the 2025/2026 intake under its direct admission channel, Saluran Terbuka Universiti Malaya (Satu), which rose by 67.1% to RM500,000 from RM299,200 the previous year. In contrast, students admitted through the UPUOnline channel, which is government-subsidised, pay only RM15,000 for the same programme. He questioned if this stark fee disparity discourages students from lower-income B40 and M40 groups. Dr Wee said that he received overwhelming feedback from parents who shared their distress after highlighting the UM case. "Many of their children applied through the UPUOnline system, only to receive an acceptance contingent upon paying up to RM300,000 via the open channel. "This financial burden is insurmountable for most families, turning what should be a joyous occasion into one of despair," he said. Dr Wee emphasised that public universities were funded by taxpayers, with the annual budget approved by Parliament specifically to cover the salaries of chancellors and staff, and to maintain the operational needs of these institutions. While acknowledging that the funding might not be sufficient for all developmental expenses, he said this should not come at the expense of deserving students who qualify through the UPUOnline system. According to a previous Parliamentary reply, Dr Wee said 19% to 40% of public university placements are now allocated through these open channels, revealing a systemic issue that undermines the foundational ethos of public education. "I firmly believe that UPUOnline should remain the main and utmost channel for enrolment in public universities. "This ensures admissions are based on merit rather than financial ability, thus promoting social mobility for underprivileged students to turn their lives around via quality and affordable education." He also warned that the current trajectory risks transforming the education system into an elitist one, where only financially privileged students can access quality education. Citing an example, Dr Wee said the total cost for completing a public university medical programme has soared from approximately RM300,000 to over RM500,000, surpassing fees at some local private universities. "Similar hikes of 20% to 30% have been seen in other professional courses like law, and this casts doubt on whether public universities still prioritise talent cultivation or have shifted towards a quasi-private model. "While direct admissions can be implemented, public universities should expand their intake rather than using slots meant for UPUOnline students," he said. Dr Wee called on the government to establish a royal commission of inquiry to review these practices guided by learned educationists, emphasising the need to uphold the role of public universities in fostering talent and offering upward mobility through education. "We cannot allow financial capability to replace academic merit in determining university admissions. The government should intervene immediately to prevent further inequality in higher education access," he said, adding that the open channel intake should be halted. "Our public universities should remain bastions of opportunity, where students are admitted based on their abilities and potential, not their financial standing. "I hope the government takes decisive action to stop this trend and safeguard the future of higher education in Malaysia. It should remain a public right rather than becoming a privilege," he added.
