Professor Shih Choon Fong current President of National University of Singapore since 2000.,is named
founding president of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia,''reported by the New York Times to have an endowment of more than US$10 billion (S$14.3 billion), making it one of the world's 10 richest(university).''
1.
Any conflict of interest since he is sitting in Presidential Search Committee?There are many learned people in the committee.I hope they have made a right choice.But i do hope he does not cast any vote for himself!!
2.
why did they not choose Nobel Prize winnersThere are about 100 candidates.
It is normal for any new U to get a Nobel Prize winner to lift the reputation.
Why they do not follow the route?
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What has he done caught the eyes of the Committee membersHe broke tenure or golden rice bowls of many Professors!!... The changes he wrought in his first few years at the helm were controversial. These included a performance- and market-based pay system for academics.
Academics also complained that their colleagues who did research, especially that which could be commercialised, were valued over those who taught well.
Despite complaints reaching even Parliament, Prof Shih stood his ground, saying it was the only way NUS could attract and keep the academic talent needed for it to become world-class.
Prof Shih, who recognised from early on the importance of internationalising the university, sought alliances with top schools through university groupings such as the Association of Pacific Rim Universities, which counts among its members US institutions Stanford and the University of California, Berkeley.
Rumblings were also heard over the university abandoning British traditions for American ones under Prof Shih's tenure.
But his turning the yearly convocation ceremony into an American-style commencement had a positive outcome: It drew alumni back to the campus for the annual event and reconnected them with NUS. ...
---Jan 14, 2008
NUS president to leave at the end of this year
By Sandra Davie,Strait Times
Many academic staff resigned to protest his new management!!
He said.how can i assess the staff in laws,history,medicine etc!!
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Why NUS drops from 19 to 33 in global rankings not affecting The committee decision?5.
He once studied Professional Diploma in Engineering, Singapore Polytechnic
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no more automatic increment...d. Staff management:
i. That a new remuneration system consisting of a basic component and other variable components reflecting differences in performance, responsibilities and market relativities be introduced,
ii. That salary scales for basic pay be replaced by salary ranges with no automatic annual increments,
iii. That the basic pay of Assistant Professors be increased by up to 20%, depending on the merit of each individual,
iv. That rigorous appraisal systems be instituted to set out expectations for staff members, help the universities and the staff members assess performance, and provide the necessary information to make decisions on rewards and recognition, from annual merit increments to promotions and the granting of tenure,... ..
---EDUN N25-02-004,02600,3 July 2000
Government Accepts Recommendations on University Governance and Funding
the problems in western U is the academic staff once granted the
life tenure,their performance may drop...