New Role For Datuk Dr Khairuddin Set To Strengthen Sarawak’s Government-Owned Universities
SIBU: Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Khairuddin Abdul Hamid is set to be appointed as a special officer to the Sarawak Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD) following the completion of his tenure as Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Teknologi Sarawak (UTS) on Tuesday.
He said the appointment was proposed by Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg during a courtesy call on Monday in Kuching.
“I met the Sarawak Premier yesterday (Monday) to thank him for his support throughout my tenure but the meeting turned out differently when he asked me to continue serving in a new capacity.
“My role will include assisting in managing educational institutions with Yayasan Sarawak while also overseeing the higher education sector,” he said.
He made the remarks while delivering his speech at the UTS vice-chancellor handover ceremony to Professor Ir Ts Dr Mohd Shahril Osman, who will take on the role in an acting capacity from April 1.
He added that his new responsibilities include coordinating Sarawak’s fully state-owned universities including Universiti Teknologi Sarawak (UTS), Curtin University, Swinburne University and i-CATS University College.
Over eight years and two months at the helm of UTS, he led the institution through major milestones, most notably its elevation from a university college to a full-fledged university in 2020.
Student numbers also increased from about 1,700 to over 5,000, further strengthening UTS’s position as a growing higher education institution.
Datuk Dr Khairuddin also emphasised that UTS is no longer seen as a local-only institution with around 60 per cent of its students coming from outside Sibu.
Globally, UTS has grown its network of partnerships, reaching countries across Asia, Europe, the United States, and Canada.
“In any organisation, I hope I have done my best to lay a strong foundation for future growth.
“Leaders may change, but the organisation and its people must remain resilient and dynamic,” he said. -UKASnews
