Evaluating governance of national Antarctic programme: Universities' role in influencing the evolution of Malaysia's engagement on cross-border research of the Antarctic

Abstract

National Antarctic Programmes (NAPs) need to keep an open mind regarding the effective governance arrangement because they involve complex international bodies and instruments of the Antarctic, and the multiple stakeholders involved at the domestic level. Without a proper setting, country's involvement in this kind of cross-border science programmes and international research collaborations would be a daunting task. Through qualitative approaches, this case study aims to evaluate the domestic governance of Malaysian Antarctic Research Programme (MARP). The result revealed that MARP has passed through several distinct stages of transformations in governance, and researchers from local universities have played significant roles. Several recommendations have been pointed out to reinforce MARP's domestic governance; a part of it to explore potential of public-private partnership and Quadruple Helix (Academia-driven) in diversifying financial resources and intensifying national interests. This study draws lessons from policy learning on a non-traditional Antarctic player trying to govern and sustain its NAP with limited resources; experiences and best practices in engaging cross-border research involving arrangement of multi-level governance; and capacity of university and its researchers in influencing policy-making process of the national research programme.