KUALA LUMPUR: More funds are required for public universities to embark on entrepreneurship programmes, a Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) vice-chancellor said.
In welcoming the RM7.4 billion fund allocated for 20 public universities, Professor Datuk Dr Daing Nasir Ibrahim said he hoped to see more research funds for the public universities to ensure they could focus on their respective areas.
“For example, like UMP, we practice applied research, but some other universities focus on using basic research,” he said when contacted after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak tabled the 2017 Budget.
Najib earlier announced a sum of RM1.4 billion from the total allocation to be distributed to four university hospitals and RM300 million for empowerment of five research universities.
He said a sum of RM100 million is also allocated to higher education institutions to foster research culture as well as to increase publications and intellectual properties.
Daing said the allocations would serve as a new beginning for public universities to soar even higher and boost university rankings.