SHAH ALAM: The Education Ministry on Friday announced the appointment of Professor Dr Mohd Azraai Kassim as the new vice-chancellor of Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) for a three-year term effective Feb 15 this year to Feb 14, 2022.
He succeeds Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Hassan Said, who held the post from Feb 2016 until Jan 2019.
Mohd Azraai, who was born in Perak on July 15, 1958, obtained his PhD in Environmental Engineering from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom; a Master of Science in Public Health Engineering and a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering, both from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST), United Kingdom.
He began his career in 1983 as a lecturer in the Faculty of Civil Engineering at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), and held several senior positions at the university, including Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Internationalisation, from 2009 to 2012) and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation, from 2012-2015).
Prior to his UiTM posting, Mohd Azraai was managing director and CEO of UTMSPACE, a post he had been holding since 2015.
Besides his stellar academic career, Mohd Azraai is a member of several professional bodies, including the Malaysian Society for Engineering & Technology (MySET); the International Water Association (IWA) United Kingdom; the Environmental Management and Research Association of Malaysia (ENSEARCH); the Environmental Professionals Register of Malaysia (EPRM); Registered Professional Engineer, Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM); Registered Asean Chartered Professional Engineer (ACPE); and the Harvard Business School Alumni Club of Malaysia.
He is also a Fellow at the Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM).
Mohd Azraai has published two books on academic leadership, 155 journals and higher education related proceedings, five international research projects, 21 national research projects and 19 consultancy projects valued at RM6.03 million
"(We) would like to express our utmost appreciation to Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Hassan Said for the dedication, commitment, discipline and service rendered throughout his three-year tenure as UiTM VC.
"His leadership showed the strength of character of a man of great integrity and humility who is driven by the desire to create a distinctive impact for the university, and the wider community.
"I am delighted to join the university community in offering our heartfelt congratulations to Professor Ir Dr Mohd Azraai Kassim as the new vice-chancellor of UiTM. We hope that this appointment will continue the university’s vision and mission to be among the best universities in the world and to uphold a fierce commitment to bring further improvement to the community it serves," UiTM Board of Directors chairman Datuk Seri Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir said in a statement.