‘Create a lasting impact’

What do we want to do for the world? Vincent Van Gogh, the renowned artist, lived a life that had a profound impact on later generations, despite not receiving recognition during his lifetime.

His goal in life, however, was not to be influential. Despite knowing that his work would not sell, Van Gogh, driven by a higher purpose, continued to produce pieces that touched millions of people long after he had passed.

Indeed, to make our work impactful, we must do it with a deep sense of empathy for the world. Universities have a moral obligation to collaborate with all stakeholders in addressing global challenges, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, natural disasters, ongoing conflicts, economic downturns and ageing population issues as we strive to achieve the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

We must recognise that lasting impact comes from research, and 80% of research is conducted in universities. If researchers don’t take responsibility, then who will?

Malaysia has made significant progress in research, ranking third in the Islamic world and improving its position in the QS World University Rankings. Our research impact, however, remains low.

We have a low return on ideas, with only 9,000 patent applications made out of 120,000 research publications in the last 10 years, and a low return on investment, with only 5% to 10% of funded research being commercialised compared to 60% in countries like the United States and Japan.

There is immense potential for us to make a significant impact on the economy, environment, society and culture through our research. Drawing inspiration from Van Gogh, we too can contribute to a better future for the generations to come.

To achieve this, we must adopt a purpose mindset that empathises with the world and collaborate across disciplines and universities to address the pressing challenges.

As researchers, we have the responsibility and power to shape the future. Let’s strive for excellence beyond high rankings. Let’s work together to create a world that is more just, equitable and sustainable.

DR DAVID NGO CHEK LING

Adjunct professor

UCSI University