SINTOK, 21 May 2026: Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) continues to strengthen its agenda of advancing corporate governance in the country through a strategic collaboration with the Malaysian Institute of Charted Secretaries and Administrators (MAICSA) via the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), focusing on the development of future professionals grounded in integrity and ethical leadership.
The signing ceremony saw UUM represented by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr Ahmad Martadha Mohamed, while MAICSA was represented by its President, Dato’ Akbar Moidunny. The ceremony took place at Visitors’ Lounge.
Prof. Dr Ahmad Martadha Mohamed said the MoU marked a significant milestone in strengthening strategic relations, given MAICSA’s standing as a leading professional body in Malaysia responsible for advancing professional standards and promoting good governance, company secretarial practices and regulatory compliance.
According to him UUM requires strategic partners capable of elevating the university’s reputation in the field of management.
“Through this MoU, I hope MAICSA and UUM will further strengthen this relationship by leveraging each other’s strengths to enhance graduate marketability.
“From our perspective, we may feel that our graduates are already equipped to meet the market demands, However, from the viewpoint of the external stakeholders, there may still be areas where our graduates have yet to fully meet the needs of the employment market,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor expressed confidence that the MoU would pave the way for broader forms of collaboration in the future, while also serving as a bridge connecting academia and industry in empowering various initiatives that would benefit both institutions.
Meanwhile, Dato’ Akbar Moidunny described the collaboration as a significant move towards raising awareness among the younger generation regarding the importance of the governance professions in shaping organisations that are transparent, principled and trusted by society.
He added that the institution’s mission extends beyond producing professionals who are technically competent but it also aspires to nurture governance leaders who embody integrity, accountability, professionalism and sound judgement in decision-making.
“Strong institutions are built on sound governance. That is why we must move together to strengthen governance literacy among the younger generation and raise the professional standards of the country’s future workforce,” he said.
According to him, the current governance landscape is becoming increasingly complex, thus requiring closer ties between academic institutions and professional bodies to ensure talent development remains relevant to industry needs and contemporary challenges.
He emphasised that strategic collaborations of this nature prove that much can be achieved when universities and professional bodies move in tandem to strengthen national governance standards.
“Through this collaboration, we will not only enhance standards of professionalism but also strengthen public confidence in institutions and develop organisations that are more trusted and future-ready,” he said.
He further emphasised that a culture of good governance must be nurtured from an early stage, including among school students and those in higher education institutions in order to shape future leaders who understand the values of integrity and social responsibility.
He also recorded his appreciation to both the UUM and MAICSA teams for their commitment and dedication in realising this collaboration.
“Let today mark the beginning of a continuous and meaningful strategic relationship, one that can empower future professionals, strengthen public confidence and contribute to national progress through robust governance,” he said.
MAICSA, which was officially rebranded earlier this year, has a distinguished history spanning more than six decades in championing governance excellence, professionalism, and ethical leadership in Malaysia.
Also present in the ceremony were MAICSA Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Justin J. Anthony; MAICSA, Council Member, Datuk Mazlan Ahmad; UUM Legal Advisor, Assoc. Prof. Dr Khadijah Mohamed; Dean of the Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz School of Accountancy (TISSA) as well as senior officers from UUM and MAICSA.
