Page 178 - VC Message

Leading with Purpose
Messages of the Vice Chancellor KEYNOTED ADDRESSES

57. The bottom line is: Our universities’ mandate must be as global as the challenges
we seek to solve.

Ladies and gentlemen,

58. At the heart of UM’s approach is a holistic three-pronged mantra: industrialisation,
internationalisation, and community engagement
59. We strive to ensure that our academic programs produce graduates with the skills
and creativity needed by current and future industries. It also means fostering
innovation and entrepreneurship on campus.

Ladies and gentlemen,

60. As I conclude, I return to the central idea of reimagining higher education for a
geopolitical, digital, and sustainable era. The world around us is changing rapidly.
61. And through it all, we must uphold the moral compass that keeps us oriented
toward improving human lives and preserving our planet.
62. I urge all of us – educators, policymakers, students, and stakeholders – to embrace
a bold vision of the university as a driver of change. Let us foster institutions that
are deeply integrated with their communities and yet globally networked, fiercely
excellent in scholarship and yet warmly human in spirit.
63. In the 21st century, we will be the conscience and innovator of a world. We will
chart new frontiers of knowledge and at the same time ensure those frontiers are
guided by ethics and empathy.
64. In closing, let me echo the pride and determination I feel as Vice-Chancellor of
170 Universiti Malaya, which I know is shared by my colleagues across the region: We
stand ready to continue elevating our nations – and indeed the world – through
our hard work and commitment to education, research, and service.
65. The road ahead will have its trials, but armed with knowledge, guided by values,
and united in purpose, there is little we cannot overcome.

Let us move forward bravely and reimagine higher education as a cornerstone of a
brighter future for all.

Thank you.