UUM and Takaful Ikhlas Family Berhad Forge Strategic Ties to Empower Students and Enhance Graduate Employability
SINTOK, 19 April 2026: Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) continues to expand and strengthen its industry collaboration network through a strategic engagement session with Takaful Ikhlas Family Berhad (TIFB), marked by an official visit from its President and Chief Executive Officer, Wan Ahmad Najib Wan Ahmad Lotfi, at the Vice-Chancellor’s Meeting Room this morning.
Also present at the session were Vice-President of TIFB Agency Division, Mr Ezwandy Mahidi; Dean of the Islamic Business School (IBS), Professor Dr Selamah Maamor; and Director of the Centre for Career Development and Graduate Employability (PPKKG), Dr Fikriyah Abdullah; as well as several executive officers from both institutions.
During the discussion, the Vice-Chancellor shared updates on UUM’s current standing in global university ranking, underscoring the institution’s efforts to enhance its academic reputation at the global level.
In line with this, the Vice-Chancellor encouraged TIFB to play a more active role in promoting takaful protection plans among the university community, particularly students and support staff, given the growing importance of financial security.
The meeting also highlighted the IKHLAS Padawan programme introduced by TIFB, which was commended for its initiative in providing opportunities for students to venture into entrepreneurship and build practical skills in the real world.
The Vice-Chancellor also emphasised the importance of professional certification in enhancing graduates’ employability. In this regard, he proposed that IBS at UUM initiate a Request for Proposal (RFP) to implement the Registered Financial Planner (RFP) programme, citing Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) as a successful example of such implementation.
As part of efforts to further strengthen the academic-industry collaboration, the Vice-Chancellor also proposed the appointment of Mr Wan Ahmad Najib Wan Ahmad Lotfi as an Adjunct Fellow at IBS, UUM.
Overall, the visit marked a significant step forward in strengthening strategic collaboration between UUM and the industry, particularly in fostering impactful partnerships that support student development and enhance graduate employability in line with evolving industry needs.
