University_and_Integrity

Education has never been more important from what the world is demanding for the survival of oneself. As the world ages, the competition getting fierce, the less wisdom might not live to the fullest, while the wise become the mastermind. “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” – Lao Tzu. Understanding education as metaphor of fishing is indeed realistic cause for man to last. Education is about to live on by any mean while considering certain guidelines. Thus, the urge for education has created the most common system of it by allocating universities as the institutes of the highest level of education after the primary and secondary school levels. Locally, there are about 20 public universities operate while 22 of the private competing in the same boat, as to deliver the education. From what is constituted in University and University College Acts (UUCA), a university is defined as higher education institute which deliver the study at the preparatory, under-graduate, postgraduate or post-doctoral level and includes research and educational development and the commercialization of such research and development. In spite of that, this writing is about to issue how will the end of university product that is students to be someone with their best natural talent to contribute to society in all of the work fields. Our antique education system may seem to be exam-oriented. Well, maybe some other scholar cited that it is indeed an exam-oriented education system. This is by the opinion of going to school for good grade on top of qualification paper, so they will be demanded in the job market. Yes, the job market is what our students have been brainwashed with. “Study hard, secure a good job in future” ideology dims in every head of students. In addition to local education system, our government has carried out the system by National Education Policy which states: Education in Malaysia is on-going efforts towards further developing the potential of individuals in a holistic and integrated manner, so as to produce individuals who are intellectually, spiritually, emotionally and physically balanced and harmonic, based on a firm belief in and devotion to God. Such an effort is designed to produce Malaysian citizens who are knowledgeable and competent, who possess high moral standards and who are responsible and capable of achieving high level of personal well-being as well as being able to contribute to the harmony and betterment of the family, the society and the nation at large. See. The end products of our education system are to produce individuals who are intellectually, spiritually, emotionally and physically balanced and harmonic, based on a firm belief in and devotion to God. Furthermore, this policy is brought on as it is designed to produce a citizen with high moral standards and lastly, they will be able to contribute to the society. In contrast, our country is listed at 56th place in the Corruption Perception Index of 2009 . The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) table shows a country's ranking and score, the number of surveys used to determine the score, and the confidence range of the scoring. So, what about it' People in the job market has been doing serious crime all this while, despite the fact that they are all received early education under the same policy though. Bribery is not only the reason, how about cheating, a scam, irrelevant use of office properties, as well as the other crimes. This is where integrity came along with education. As it be defined - in Oxford Dictionary 2006 edition - as the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. Secondly, it also means the state of being whole and undivided. Allah knows of (the tricks) that deceive with the eyes, and all that the hearts (of men) conceal. (Ghafir verses19) This quality of integrity just not born with people. It needs to be nurtured, and fostered as a man grew. Stimulating the integrity as the objective of higher education such in university, is a big step toward the more prosperous and better society. “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation. Your character is what you really are while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” – Dale Carnegie Building a character through relevant courses in university is not difficult. The professor from his or her specialty can work on this by providing a module to work on instilling integrity values in each and every student they had. For example, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) runs a unit named Co-curricular Activity Centre (CCAC) to tackle this issue. In general, the implementation of this program would enable the University to produce graduates who are better able to face the challenges posed by new millennium with the emergence of the borderless world; graduates who are continually interacting with their environment, who are perpetually striving for excellence, in pursuit of the true meaning of ihsan. As mentioned in its very own vision of the establishment: "To be an international centre of educational excellence which integrates Islamic revealed knowledge and values in all disciplines and which aspires to the restoration of the Ummah's leading role in all branches of knowledge." The worlds knew that a man is always better with ethics. And as the matter of facts, religion provides the universal values of ethics. To be comprehensive, Islam is the perfect religion to implement this. Thus, stimulating the teaching of Islam with human knowledge bears a fruit toward an ideal person in future. The teaching of values has not been in constant pace. It seems, at the university level, the program only considering providing the course which is only relevant in a secular way. For example, the unit is established for the urge of this. Why' Why not the values integrated already with the course provided between the two types of knowledge' Let starts by reviewing the objectives of the university. Establishment of a university actually closer the gap of education and the society. For example, IIUM which is established in Gombak has invited a lot more development than what Gombak was, especially in rural area which is lived by the orang asli. At the same time, the community received a lot of development from every aspect of life. For example, an Islamic Outreach program thought them how to behave morally and live according to the teaching. The teaching is indeed prospering the society in future. As conclusion, the second meaning of integrity reflects the unity of the society. Locally, there are about more than 5 races that lived in this country. The unity of the society represents the strength of it. As to be related to the title of this writing, university is a place to deliver the education with integrity values, in which uniting all of the people towards a betterment of life. Bibliography Al-Quran. “Why I Skipped Class”, Next Level Publishing, Malaysia, 2009 “IIUM Undergraduate Handbook”, IIUM Printing Sdn Bhd, Malaysia, 2008 “Quotes of Success”, Michael E. Ruge - 2005