KUCHING: Higher education at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) is edging closer to real-world practice with the appointment of 10 Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) under the Ministry of Higher Education’s (MoHE) CEO@Faculty programme.
The initiative, which runs from January 1 to December 31, 2026, is aimed at strengthening collaboration with industry to ensure graduates are better prepared for the evolving job market while positioning UNIMAS as a strategic industry partner.
Director of the University Industry Centre (UnIC) at UNIMAS, Prof. Dr Mohd Hasnain Md Hussain. said the appointments would provide opportunities to strengthen the curriculum, expand research, and produce competitive graduates.
“During this period, each CEO or their representative will contribute between 20 and 30 hours with the faculty, including lectures, experience-sharing sessions, and opportunities for academic staff placements in industry for up to six months,” he said.
He said this during the ‘Segulai Sejalai with CEO@Faculty’ at The Gallery, DeTAR Putra, UNIMAS here today.
UNIMAS’ Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr Ahmad Hata Rasit. Added that the presence of these 10 distinguished figures will certainly serve as a great source of inspiration for the university community in facing the challenges of higher education in line with current industry needs.
This collaboration, he said, will enrich the curriculum, strengthen research, and ensure students gain early exposure to the realities of the working world.
“The synergy between the university’s expertise and the vast experience of the CEOs is expected to create a greater impact on talent development as well as on addressing societal and industry issues.
“Among the corporate leaders appointed are Petroleum Sarawak Bhd’s Chairman, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Hamid Bugo; PERKESO’s chief executive, Datuk Seri Dr Mohammad Azman Aziz Mohammad; Malaysian American Electronics Industry’s (MAEI’s) Chairman, Datuk Seri Wong Siew Hai; Sarawak Business Federation’s President, Datuk Abang Abdul Karim Tun Openg; Salehin Chartered Accountants’ Managing Director, Dr Salehin Abang; and MAA Sdn Bhd’s Director, Datuk Ezumi Harzani.
“This global-level collaboration is further strengthened with the participation of Longi Group’s CEO, Ngieng Sii Jing, while local industries are represented by Pawada Food Industries Sdn Bhd’s General Manager, Azaliza Safarina Wasli; Sarawak Tourism Board’s CEO, Sharzede Datuk Saleh Askor, and SACLRA’s General Manager, Joseph Blandoi,” he said.
UNIMAS believes the involvement of these figures will help students better understand the importance of the knowledge they acquire, while preparing them to enter the workforce with greater confidence.
The ‘CEO@Faculty’ programme also supports MoHE’s aspiration to produce holistic, resilient graduates who remain relevant in the face of rapidly evolving industries.
