Need more forum of discussions

I admit that I'm still new in the environment of local universities. However, I notice that here there is less discussion in terms of conference or seminar presentations here. For instance, at my school in Bath we usually have seminar once a month during term time, presented by professors or lecturers from other university. The time is usually in the afternoon and lasts for one and half hours.

I found the seminar a good exercise and that's when I learned new things and ideas. Although it was only one person giving a talk, the environment was not hostile. It was usually a friendly discussion. As it was long talk, it gave enough time for me to grasp the idea what the professor was talking about.

Here, at least in one of the local varsity, I find there is no similar event. I'm not sure whether it is because of lack of promotion, but the main thing is that I could not find anything similar.

I think the reason could be due to the one I mentioned in my earlier post. It is that we are afraid that somebody might steal our idea. Or it could be that there is no incentive for local lecturers to present their research, let alone to organize one. I'm not sure whether it always ends up in a hostile situation.

Nevertheless, if the assumptions I suggested above were right, then something should be done to improve it. Otherwise, I don't see there will be any change in the quality of education or improvement in world university ranking among local varsity. I believe we can improve a lot things in life through a proper and healthy discussion.

Furthermore, the ability of the lecturers to present and argue their research in quite a long seminar shows their credibility and quality of the lecturers in research. Other lecturers could also learn something from the seminar. It is important because a university is judged not only by the students it produced but also its research and publication.

To relate to my experience, about two weeks ago, I attended to a one and half hours conference organised by a local university which is closed to my house. The conference was about the stimulus package to jump start the economy. There were four panels, three from the industry (two out of three were accounting-based) and one local university lecturer. Actually all of them were local except one who was a PR.

For someone like me who has one through rigorous exercise in the process of getting a Phd, I expected the conference discussion to be a fresh of new ideas in nature. Unfortunately, it was not, despite having top guns in the industry as panelists. Top guns means that the panelists were executive director, CEO and MD of big companies which can considered top management posts.

Their content of presentations were nothing new of ideas. Most of their ideas were already reported in newspapers. I expected these people would tell a new story from the other side of the coin. For example, one panelist was commenting about the government's proposal of the rebate for giving up old cars. Actually, this practice is nothing new. It is modelled from many European country which is meant to generate their dying automotive industry. It shows how shallow the top gun is.

Another panelist was extracting a report from a consultant which did not give anything new input and so did the other panelist. All three panelists though agreed that the stimulus package would work if the implementation is done right. None of them provide any recommendations how to improve implementation.

Unfortunately, the panelist from university also disappointed me. I would like to hear any economic theory and philosophy and recommendations from someone with academic background, and not just disgruntled about the economy. It is evident that there is a need to increase participation in seminar and conference among university lecturers.

People in the industry don't know what theory they have to look into. They are practically day-to-day basis problem solving management. Without a proper theory, you are not able to predict what is going to happen and why it happened.

Therefore, people in the university, I mean the lecturers, should not follow the footsteps of people in the industry. It does not mean that the university should remove any association with industry, but the university should remain as free as possible from industry's influences.

Back to the conference I attended, I would like someone to talk about the philosophy of the economy, i.e. whether we should be inclined towards capitalism or socialism or Marxism. The philosophy is the foundation for economic policy. In addition, I would like someone to touch the issue of rental seeking activity. This activity will also severely affect the economy.

All in all, it shows that it is beneficial for the university to change. I mean badly and urgently need to change. It is a change for a better future of local universities.