Skip to main content

Vice-Chancellor Visits School of Chemical Engineering for Strategic Engagement Session

June 2025, as part of his ongoing commitment to strengthening strategic alignment across the university’s academic entities.

The engagement session, held at 11:00 a.m., brought together academic staff, along with representatives from the administrative and technical teams, in a focused dialogue aimed at enhancing the School’s academic excellence and global visibility.

Presentation of Vision, Mission and Strategic Programmes

During the session, the Dean of the School, Professor Ir. Dr. Zainal Ahmad, presented the newly revised Vision and Mission of the School. The presentation highlighted recent developments and introduced flagship programmes that have been curated to align closely with the APEX-USM Strategic Planning 2022–2026. The School’s direction emphasized innovation, international collaboration, and industry engagement in advancing its academic and research goals.

Vice-Chancellor’s Forward-Thinking Proposals

In his address, Professor Dato’ Seri Ir. Dr. Abdul Rahman Mohamed outlined several forward-thinking initiatives to elevate the School’s standing on the global academic stage. Among his key suggestions were:

  • Fostering collaborations with top 100 world universities and leading multinational companies in Malaysia, as a means to enhance research and academic exposure.
  • Encouraging academic staff to consider sabbatical leaves at renowned global institutions as a gateway to deeper international collaboration.
  • Increasing the number of Professional Engineers (Ir.) among faculty members, which would further boost the School’s visibility and professional credibility.

The Vice-Chancellor also stressed the importance of leveraging the Industry-Community Advisory Panels (ICAP) more effectively, recommending that their expertise and networks be fully utilised to support the School’s strategic initiatives.

DSC08949

Another significant proposal was the exploration of joint-degree programmes with top-ranked global institutions and universities within the region, offering students greater academic mobility and international exposure.

A Shared Commitment to Excellence

The meeting concluded at 12:30 p.m., followed by a formal lunch where the Vice-Chancellor joined the School’s staff in an informal setting, continuing the spirit of collaboration and shared purpose.

DSC08966

The visit marked a pivotal step in reinforcing the School of Chemical Engineering’s role as a key contributor to USM’s global academic ambition. The ideas exchanged during the engagement are expected to shape upcoming initiatives that will position the School for future success and sustained academic excellence.

DSC08961

Prepared by: MHU

Photos: MRO & MFAB