Monday, August 5, 2013

Journal SPROUT 2013

Editor’s Comment This is the third issue of “Sprout”. The first issue of 1000 copies was published in December 2009, the second issue of 2000 copies was published in July 2009 and the third issue is expected to be published in June 2013 with 3000 copies. The increase in the number of copies is to meet the increasing demand from students, well-wishers and friends. The positive response from members of the public had given encouragement to the committee to continue publishing the Journal to meet the demands of our readers. The editorial committee wishes to thank their supporters since their comments, appreciation and even criticism have become the source of inspiration to them to improve the Journal from time to time. The first and the second issue of “Sprout” have actually prompted our students to compete with each other in producing academic articles to be published in “Sprout”. Students are well-aware that “Sprout” is no ordinary publication. To sustain the quality and the good standard of the publication, all titles in the Journal are research-based, complete with complete with correct referencing and the bibliography compilation based on the Harvard System of Writing Convention. It appears that more students are now working hard to write articles for “Sprout”. Every student wants to see his or her article published at least once in the three-year period he or she stays in the programme in UNISEL. In this sense, it is perceived that “Sprout” has indirectly becomes the driving force for our students to produce respected research-based articles. As has been mentioned in this column in the previous issues of “Sprout” the Journal committee invites members of the academic community in other faculties of UNISEL to send their articles for publication in “Sprout”. To date this invitation has not yet been taken up very seriously. The invitation to write articles is still opened to them especially students from other programmes in UNISEL. As members of academic they should write academic articles for journals or any respected publication locally or abroad. Such writings can become the testimony of the quality of an academician. Sometimes it is sad to note that academicians in our society are not too bothered to think about writing quality academic articles. They may be good in teaching and research but they are certainly not so good at writing. People with doctorate qualification and the only writing these people produce have been their thesis. A thesis is perhaps compulsory to complete a doctorate degree. Doctoral students are forced to write thesis which is compulsory to complete their degrees. They have to write but after that these researchers tend to forget about writing. This attitude is certainly bad for the society. People who have complete doctoral qualification or even a masters degree qualifications must disseminate the vast knowledge that they have acquired throughout their study to members of the society who have had no opportunity whatsoever to study beyond the tertiary levels. A respected academician must be effective in teaching, be productive in research and be excellent in writing for publication plus should render some form of community services. Then society can be proud of the type of academicians that we have in Malaysia. Academicians without publications are analogous to trees without leaves and fruits. This is the type of rewards that academicians should not tolerate at all and at any time. It is therefore imperative that academicians produce books and learned articles to be published in journals, magazines, gazettes and in any respected publications throughout their lives. Academicians in the West often take research and writing of academic papers as their forte. They follow the axiom “Publish or Perish”. Academicians especially those conferred with the title of professors write books and publish them at least once in two years. Besides, these overseas professors who produce high quality articles for publication in journals, gazettes, magazines, tabloids and newspapers. Seldom do they hear professors who do not write books or at least academic papers for publication. But sadly in Malaysia this is common where professors have nothing to show as testimony to their scholarly achievement and experience. Therefore, it is high time that our professors emulate the attitude of academicians in western societies by conducting extensive and scientific research should followed by publishing the findings in the form of books, monographs or articles for journals, magazines or for presentation in seminars and conferences. We in UNISEL , wishes to see such changes in the attitude of our academicians soon. But when, this is the question that we all are waiting for. The Editor Sprout