Revisiting the Role of Universities in Achieving MDGs

Abstract

Much of the action toward the achievement of MDGs escapes the synergy required in making university education relevant and impactful. The sterility of degree-based education and the creation of ivory tower intellectuals are not the roles which any university can boast about in present times. Education which resonates with public action is the most important contribution of universities. Thus, every university also has an indirect responsibility to provide and develop its local community, and unfortunately, such contribution to developing community through various sustainable development efforts is often underestimated. The contentious issue is that public universities in Malaysia should play a strategic role in the economic and social development of the country and the regions where they are located. This is because university is an important player in the social system because of its supply of professionals that have universalistic skills which provide a better identification of social and economic responsibilities. This chapter, therefore, attempts to explore Malaysia’s public universities’ role in helping its surrounding community. Particular attention will be given to strategic innovation programs that help foster the development of the community ICT development. Using stakeholder theory and corporate social responsibility model as a framework of study, the study argues that public universities should move beyond its traditional mission of education and research and instead be more sensitive to and aware of the needs of its local community.