SINTOK, 25 June 2025: Being a university staff member entails a great deal of responsibility and calls for a high level of dedication, sincerity, and integrity.
The Chairman of Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) Board of Directors, Tan Sri Datuk Wira Dr Mohd Shukor Mahfar stated that lecturers’ responsibility go beyond teaching and sharing knowledge, but they are also expected to lead in a complex organisational setting with diverse challenges.
“To become outstanding academicians, one must posses more than just knowledge and technical skills.
“Academic excellence includes the capacity for critical and creative thought, productive industry collaboration, high-impact research and active knowledge transfer.
“Exceptional academicians play a pivotal role in human resource development. Through quality education, relevant training and research that addresses current issues, we can nurture graduates who are not only knowledgeable, but also competitive, ethical and equipped with strong leadership qualities,” he explained.
In carrying out this role, Tan Sri Datuk Wira Dr Mohd Shukor specified that personal qualities such as attitude, discipline, perseverance and resilience are crucial. However, these qualities must be complemented with integrity, academic honesty and strong sense of social duty to ensure decisions and actions remain ethically aligned.
Additionally, he said that any planning, implementation and evaluation of policies or actions should not be detached form the external environment.
“Every plan and action, be it the creation of academic policy, the introduction of new programmes, research or organisational management, – must take into account thorough PESTEL (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environment and Legal) analysis to ensure strategic and long-term effectiveness, he elaborated.
He further clarified that PESTEL, which stands for ‘Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental and Legal’ is a framework for strategic analysis framework that takes into consideration all environmental changes, including those brought about by new technological advancements.
“Education policies, for instance diminishing government funding for public universities significantly impacts the direction of universities and academic programmes.
“Rapid technological advancement have had a major impact on the education world. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), online learning and big data in the analysis of student development have become a necessity that cannot be overlooked.
“Universities must adeptly adapt to these developments to maintain its relevance,” he stated during the talk titledAcademia and Future Governance: Roles, Responsibilities and Strategic held at the School of Business Management (SBM).
Meanwhile, the Dean of SBM, Assoc. Prof. Dr Shuhymee Ahmad remarked that the talk programme provided a valuable platform for academicians to listen, discuss, enquire and share ideas, ensuring alignment with UUM’s strategic objectives and national academic goals.
“I am confident that today’s insights will motivate academic staff to provide stakeholders with their best services, enhancing their professional excellence as educators,” he said.
Senior Lecturer at SBM, Dr Noor Hafiza Zakariya, shared that participating in the session with Tan Sri Mohd Shukor enriched their understanding of governance within the UUM community.
“His insights broadened our perception regarding the active roles lecturers and staff must play at SBM, emphasising the importance of timely and appropriate decision-making to strengthen future governance practices.
“Futures are shaped by lecturers, who not only produce graduates but visionary leaders who understand global realities and act with local sensitivity. Today’s higher education encompasses more than just credentials; it involves moulding sustainable values, attitudes, and leadership in an ever-changing world,” she concluded.
