Universities now must transform into centres of innovation, community transformation, and national development. Hence, research empowerment is now an absolute necessity and obligation. Lecturers should not just impart knowledge from books but also conduct research that benefits the nation.

The culture of ‘research-based education’ must exist in universities, whereby teaching and research should not be separated. Beside imparting theoretical concepts from books, lecturers must incorporate actual experiences gained through research into teaching. Students learn better from actual experiences, so the more students are involved with ongoing research activities and learn about the discoveries, the more they develop critical thinking, creativity, and innovation. From my personal experience, nothing enlightens students more than lessons enriched by actual experiences in research and innovations carried out in aquaculture, marine biotechnology, and other disciplines. 

In fact, working with players in industries, hatcheries, and local communities has seen my research findings translated into useful practices beneficial to both the aquaculture industries and the communities at large. Research should also benefit the country, so universities must provide scientific solutions to communities through scientific services, technical know-hows, training, and technology transfer.

Research activities also promote the national economy by fostering innovations and intellectual property rights and the creation of advanced industries. Universities and the government must continuously multiply grants for translational research, to translate scientific discoveries into practical technologies and products, policies, and community-based solutions. Through translational research, universities impact industries and the community better. Universities, governments, and industries must collaborate to ensure research outputs enhance the national economy.

Universities must ensure that good science discovered is conveyed to the world, not locked up in laboratories. They must be disseminated in other formats such as books, scientific publications, technical papers, conference presentations, policy papers, training manuals, industrial guidance papers. Scientific writing and knowledge transfer is therefore integral to science and academia, and can take various forms, including community outreach, consulting services, public talks, seminars, workshops, and training sessions. Engaging the media can also raise awareness of the latest scientific breakthroughs.

Academicians must collaborate with other scientists in related fields to generate new knowledge. Networking increases innovation capability while enhancing global exposure.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been useful in research. With the help of AI, literature mining, data analysis, and modelling, a prediction system becomes quite easy. AI also helps to identify new research areas to investigate. However, AI must not replace scientific thought; use it as an auxiliary means to improve human intellect and to make the research process faster and more accurate.

In my view, lecturers active in research excel better as educators and researchers. Constantly involved in research activities helps lecturers be highly alert intellectually. Lecturers who contribute innovation, technology, and services to society inspire their students.

Developing a research-oriented culture requires vision, leadership, institutional commitment, and a sense of purpose among academics. Through such efforts, universities can fulfill their true mission:  promoting national development and human advancement.