The role of librarians in supporting the activities of a
research university: UML’s experience
Nor Edzan Che Nasir
Library
University of Malaya
INTRODUCTION
 The main goals of research universities as defined by
MOHE (2004)
 to be a leader in innovation,
 to set up and enhance centres of excellence in
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prioritised areas of the nation,
to produce world class research outputs,
to generate high impact research publications,
to attract graduate students of high standards and
to provide a conducive environment for research.
INTRODUCTION
 Research university (RU) - public universities recognised
by the Cabinet on 11 October 2006 to be the hub of
excellence for education and research penyelidikan.
 RMK 9 – October 2006 – 4 RUs– UM, UKM, UPM, USM
 additional 100million RM for each university for research,
development and commercialisation activities
 Audit 2007-2009 - 4 aspects
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Human capital
Publications
Patent and intellectual property rights
Income generation
 2010 – UTM
 2020 – 6 RUs
CIRI-CIRI & MATLAMAT
PENUBUHAN
 Ciri-ciri RU
 Bidang pengajian berfokuskan penyelidikan
 Kemasukan kompetitif
 Pensyarah berkualiti
 Nisbah siswazah dan pascasiswazah 50:50
 Matlamat penubuhan
 Meningkatkan aktiviti Penyelidikan dan Pembangunan dan
Pengkomersilan (R&D&C)
 Meningkatkan pengambilan pelajar Pasca Siswazah dan Pasca Doktoral
 Meningkatkan bilangan pensyarah yang mempunyai Ph.D
 Mewujud dan memperkukuhkan lagi Pusat Kecemerlangan
 Mempertingkatkan pengambilan pelajar asing dan meningkatkan
kedudukan atau ranking IPT di peringkat antarabangsa
ROLE OF UML
 Need to change accordingly in line with the characteristics
of RU
 Focus on research
 UG to PG ration of 50:50
 Need to change accordingly in line KPI
 % of fulfilled titles from reading list
 % of increase in access to Interaktif Portal
 Change in
 Organisation structure
 Collection
 Services
 Staff
ESTABLISH NEW DIVISIONS
& STRENGTHEN EXISTING ONES –
enhance research, quality academics
 Academic Services Division
 Keep track of UM’s publications in ISI-WOS & Scopus
 Verification of CVs of new academic staff & staff for
promotion
 Conducts courses about ISI-WOS & Scopus
 Conducts courses on journal publishing
 Liase & arrange for courses on ISI-WOS & SCOPUS and
those related to article publishing
 Information Skills Division
 Manages & runs the compulsory GXEX1401 :
Information Skills Course to all 1st year undergraduates
 Conducts lectures on research methodology (RM) at all
faculties since RM is a compulsory course for all
postgraduate
 Conducts Information Skills sessions to postgraduates
 Organises roadshows to all faculties
 Participates in undergraduate & postgraduate
orientation programmes via exhibitions/booths
 Other Divisions
 Centralise functions except for branch libraries
 Close down special libraries
 Deployment of staff
 Merit-based promotion
 Removal of problematic non-specialised staff to central
pool
 New contractual posts – Finance Officer, Project
Officers
COLLECTION – enhance
research & increase access
 Provision of 24 x 7 access to the collection from inside &
outside campus
 acquisition of electronic resources
 EZProxy
 Provision of sources not available in collection
 Networking with other Malaysian libraries through MOLEC
 Improve DDS & ILL services
 UG & PG suggest topics
 Research-based sources
 SRMO
 Research methodology
 Sources in niche areas
SERVICES – enhance
research & increase access
 Develop web-based information sources
 Website
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ISI WOS
PendetaWebPAC
Interaktif Portal
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E-books
E-journals
Databases
 Trial db
 Subscribed db
 Open access db
Personalisation MyLibrary
UM in the News
Digital@UM
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Microfiches@UM
Eprints Repository
 UM Memory
 Facebook
 Collaborate with developers/academics
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Dspace@UM
MyManuskrip
MyAIS
UDL
 DDS & ILL
 Students involved in acquisition
 Workshops/Talks/Demonstrations
PROFESSIONAL STAFF
 Information literate
 Possess the necessary soft skills
 Able to write in Malay & English
 Able to stand & deliver
 Minimal entry qualification – MLIS
 Preferably with a subject-based first degree
 Preferably with a first degree in CS/IT
 Encouraged to pursue PhD
HOW DO WE SUPPORT UM’S RU
STATUS
 Responsible for tracking publications in ISI-WOS & Scopus (impact
factor, cumulative impact factor, citations & cumulative citations) &
reports directly to the VC – provides data for all audit reports (for
ranking purposes) and recruitment & promotional exercises for
academics (quality academics)
 Builds a collection which fulfills the teaching, learning & research
needs of UM – requirement for SETARA, RU, MQA (self-accreditation)
& other related ranking exercises
 Source funds for acquisition of print & electronic resources (MOHE,
RU Fund, HIR Fund) – UG & PG & academics have access to a large
reservoir of sources & resources to fulfill their research needs
 Conducts classes on information skills – UG & PG & academics become
information literate & can locate information independently for their
research as well as increase access to collection
 Provides a myriad of information sources - UG & PG &
academics have access to a large reservoir of sources & resources
to fulfill their research needs
 Efficient professional staff who must be on par if not above the
users we serve – able to assist/advise UG & PG & academics in
their documentary research in all subject areas
 Develop web-based applications or partner with developers – to
showcase UM’s research globally
 Write in journals & present at conferences - to showcase
ourselves & UM globally which is vital for ranking
 Keep in touch with our users via social media – users
are randomly selected for accreditation audits & they
need to be in-the-know of our activities
 Educates and expose UG, PG, academics & researchers
to relevant information which will help them to
publish in the right journals and increase the impact
of their publications
References
Malaysia. Ministry of Higher Education. (2004).
Establishment of research university in Malaysia.
Concept paper prepared by Ad Hoc Committee on
Establishment of Research University in Malaysia, pp.
27. (Unpublished)
University of Malaya. Library. The University of Malaya.
http://www.umlib.um.edu.my