SHAH ALAM, Nov 14 — The state government has allocated RM1 million for the Selangor Research Grant to empower policymaking based on data and local expertise, said Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari.
He said the grant, awarded under the Selangor Research Institute, will assemble local academicians to support development agendas under the Second Selangor Plan (RS-2).
According to him, Selangor’s experience executing RS-1 imparted it with important lessons about the need for more systematic and data-based medium-term plans.
“The government’s role should be to pool the strengths of academicians including students and researchers, and build civil servant team capacities, instead of depending on expert third parties’ piecemeal proposals of policies,” he said when tabling the 2027 Selangor Budget at the Selangor State Legislative Assembly here yesterday.
Meanwhile, Amirudin said the state government will establish the Selangor University Network Council (SUNC) as a strategic platform to strengthen collaborations between public universities and develop Selangor’s higher learning roadmap.
He said this is aimed at eradicating the culture of working in silos in the higher learning sector.
SUNC will gather university experts to study changes in the industry and boost collaborations for future education development.
“Initial focus will be on best practices, talent development and strengthening innovation in the education world,” he added.
Amirudin also said the establishment of SUNC is aimed at shaping a world-class higher learning system and producing generations that are globally competitive.
