CDAE Director Starts the New Year with New University CPD Resolution

14 January 2026 – The School of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) welcomed a visit from the Centre for Development of Academic Excellence (CDAE) as part of the university’s effort to strengthen staff professional development and teaching excellence for the new academic year.

The session was led by Associate Professor Ir. Dr. Syamsul Rizal Abd. Shukor, Director of CDAE, accompanied by Dr. Ema Izati Zull Kepili, Deputy Director of CDAE, Pn. Halimatul Saadiah Md Yatim, Assistant Registrar, and Pn. Siti Sarah Ab Rahman, Secretary. The visit focused on briefing academic staff on the new Continuous Professional Development (CPD) resolution, which sees the minimum CPD requirement increased from 10 points to 40 points.

During the briefing, the CDAE team explained the different modules and competency-based courses commonly offered to the university staff. In addition to the existing training structure, a new skills component will be introduced, emphasising the process of preparing and submitting research articles and grant applications. This initiative aims to further strengthen research productivity and grant competitiveness among academic staff.

Dr. Syamsul Rizal also encouraged academic staff to begin early preparation for MOOCs and micro-credential products in 2026, highlighting that these digital learning initiatives have now become part of the promotion requirements at the university level. The move aligns with USM’s strategic direction towards flexible, technology-enhanced learning and wider community engagement.

The session concluded with a reminder from the CDAE team on the importance of continuous improvement in teaching and learning practices, particularly through the effective use of freely available digital technologies. Such enhancements, they noted, would add significant value to teaching delivery and support the implementation of Outcome-Based Education (OBE) across academic programmes.

The visit marked a proactive start to the year, reinforcing USM’s commitment to academic excellence, lifelong learning, and the professional growth of its academic community.

Text by : ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR DR. MOHAMAD HEKARL UZIR
Photo by : SITI HAJAR MOHD SANI