16.2.6 Strengthening Academic Integrity and Leadership Development
Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) is committed to fostering a transparent, fair, and merit-based academic environment that supports professional growth and leadership excellence. To strengthen integrity and governance in academic career progression, UniMAP has adopted The Orange Book published by the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia as its key reference and guiding framework.
The Orange Book provides comprehensive principles and best practices for enhancing academic leadership, governance, and institutional integrity. It serves as a strategic foundation for UniMAP in ensuring that academic promotions and leadership appointments are conducted with fairness, accountability, and transparency.
In line with this, UniMAP has developed its own Guideline for Promotion through Fast Track and Track for Academic Staff, designed to recognize and reward outstanding academic performance, innovation, and leadership potential. This guideline promotes clear criteria and structured pathways for academic advancement, thereby nurturing a culture of excellence and integrity among UniMAP’s educators and researchers.
Through these initiatives, UniMAP aligns itself with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, by embedding principles of good governance, fairness, and professional ethics within the academic ecosystem.
(More info: The Orange Book, Garis Panduan Kenaikan Pangkat Pensyarah)
16.2.6 Upholding Academic Freedom and Research Integrity
Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) upholds the fundamental principle of academic freedom as a cornerstone of scholarly excellence, innovation, and integrity. The university recognizes that the pursuit of knowledge flourishes in an environment where researchers and academics are free to explore, question, and contribute to the advancement of society without undue restriction.
UniMAP grants full research freedom to senior academic staff, allowing them to determine their research topics, methodologies, and collaborations—provided that all activities adhere to institutional regulations and ethical standards. This freedom includes the right to publish research findings, apply for internal and external research grants, and engage in academic and scientific discourse within their respective fields.
To further safeguard this principle, UniMAP ensures that academic representatives are actively involved in research and ethics committees, where institutional policies are designed and reviewed to protect academic independence and uphold research integrity.
Through these measures, UniMAP demonstrates its strong commitment to fostering a culture of intellectual autonomy, ethical research practices, and transparent governance, in alignment with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.
(More info: Garis Panduan Geran)
16.2.6 Promoting Research Freedom and Development for Early-Career Academics
Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) is deeply committed to nurturing a research environment that values academic freedom, especially for early-career academics who represent the next generation of innovators and scholars. Recognizing the importance of independence and creativity in academic growth, UniMAP provides strong institutional support to ensure that junior researchers can pursue their scholarly interests with confidence and integrity.
To uphold this commitment, UniMAP offers start-up research funding to empower new academics to initiate their own research projects and establish independent research trajectories. Additionally, mentorship programmes are designed to guide junior academics in research management and publication, while ensuring mentors do not dictate specific research topics or outcomes.
Ethical awareness is also emphasized through comprehensive research ethics and integrity training, ensuring all researchers adhere to the highest professional and moral standards. Moreover, UniMAP provides clear and confidential grievance channels for researchers to voice concerns related to academic freedom, workplace conduct, or research governance.
Through these initiatives, UniMAP reinforces a culture of trust, transparency, and academic autonomy, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. These measures enable early-career academics to build strong, independent research profiles and contribute freely to national and global scientific discourse.
(More info: Garis Panduan Geran)