It is going to be compulsory for all institutions of higher education to participate in the Rating System for Malaysian Higher Education Institutions (Setara) programme next year, so that prospective students may check on the standing of private universities and university-colleges before enrolling.

As National Association of Private Educational Institutions (Napei) President Assoc Prof Elajsolan Mohan said, in the long run, Setara will serve like a benchmark which helps to shape a healthy competitive environment and drive progression as a whole. It is going to enhance the quality of local higher education institutions and strengthen foreign students' confidence.

However, there must be pros and cons for every plan.

The status and prestige differences among Malaysian tertiary institutions have always been general and vague. But once a recognised authority ranking system is introduced, the comparison among them may be based only on rankings and numbers. Students and parents may choose only prestigious schools while the private sector may also look prestigious school graduates in a different light. As a result, the good becomes better while the bad becomes worse, causing the elimination of some small colleges.

The world university rankings have become a common practice over the past 20 years. The Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) compiled by Shanghai Jiao Tong University and THE-QS World University Rankings by The Times Higher Education Supplement are among the well-known university rankings.

From the positive side of view, it is not a bad thing to have our own rating system for private educational institutions as it is a global trend. But it must be carefully considered that whether we are completely ready and already have a set of rigorous assessment system, as well as a credibility assessment unit? We must understand that the impact of rankings should not be underestimated. Any mistake or incomplete assessment may irreparably harm and damage the university's academic prestige and social status.

Therefore, it is argued that instead of hastily and comprehensively assesses together a technological university and a social science university, it will be better to sensibly classify them before conducting a more scientific and credible ranking according to different courses.

Frankly speaking, there is no perfect assessment system in the world. There must be limitations and shortcomings for every assessment. It is important to understand that they provide only a reference indicator. It should not cause students to have blind faith in authority and lose their self-judgments and choices.

Most importantly, the public should shake off the myth of university rankings. They should treat it with the right attitude instead of blindly follow the trend, turning it into another form of dictatorship and authority.

(By LIM MUN FAH/Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/Sin Chew Daily)