LETTERS: The Covid-19 pandemic has raised questions about the role of academics, researchers or scholars in light of this situation.
How can their expertise help communities mitigate their burden? What is the best strategy for helping them in the short and long terms?
Also, not only does helping the community increase academics' visibility and participatory involvement, but it is also more significant because it must be based on the suitability and practicality of the assistance provided.
This is still debatable as there exists an enormous divide between academics and the public, particularly in terms of knowledge sharing and transfer.
Many strategies have been implemented to close this gap. For example, the Science, Technology, and Innovation Ministry launched several research grants through the Malaysia Grand Challenge.
With this research fund, academics can collaborate with industries to benefit the community by mainstreaming science, technology and innovation.
These efforts align with the 2030 Vision for Shared Prosperity and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The majority of domestic and international universities are being proactive in establishing research centres and focus groups to bolster research and innovation development activities.
Similarly, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia is trying to do the same by efforts to establish and reform several research centres and focus groups for academics with researchers conducting research and development on sustainable technology and transportation.
Academics' knowledge sharing and transfer should not be limited to inventions and discoveries. Even assistance to communities can be provided via online knowledge sharing sessions.
Not only that, academicians must try to be more innovative and creative in promoting new ideas to meet the needs of society as Covid-19 transitions from a pandemic to an endemic phase.
DR MD ASRUL NASID MASROM
Associate professor
Deputy dean (research, development and publication)
Faculty of Technology Management and Business,
Universiti Tun Hussein Onn, Malaysia
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times