NILAI, 26 November 2019 – In conjunction with the Opening Ceremony on 26 November 2019, Her Royal Highness Tuanku Chancellor has conferred the Honorary Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Da’wah and Islamic Management to Prof. Emeritus Tan Sri Dato’ Dzulkifli Abdul and the Honorary Master’s Degree in Da’wah and Islamic Management to Tuan Haji Addenan Haji Abd. Rahman.
Tan Sri Dato’ Dzulkifli Abdul Razak, an academic and educator who was born in 1953 is a well-respected and well-known figure for his contribution and passion for the higher education academia. His passion for the academic world is matched by his more profound love for his wife, Masrah Abidin, who has been the backbone, loyal supporter, and a strong pillar of his success. The couple is blessed with four children – Ridzal, Johan, Suriani and Farhana.
At the domestic level, his current position is the sixth Rector of the International Islamic University of Malaysia. At the international level, he was given a great responsibility as the 14th President of the International Association of Universities (IAU), a Paris-based UNESCO affiliate organisation, from 2012-2016. He became the first Malaysian to be appointed to this position since the inception of the organisation 60 years ago. Prior to that, he served as President of the Association of Southeast Asia Institutions of Higher Learning (ASAIHL) from 2007-2008.
The close tie between Dzulkifli Abdul Razak and USIM is not something new or ordinary. Before his appointment as the UIAM Rector, he was Chairperson of the Board of Directors of USIM from 2016-2018. Prior to that, he had served the university as the first holder of the Chair of Islamic Leadership and Principal Fellow at USIM’s Faculty of Leadership and Management from 2014-2016.
One of the positions he held in higher education institutions is as an Honorary Professor at the University of Nottingham since 2014. Recently, he was appointed as the Senior Advisor of the Asia-Europe Institute, University of Malaya, and Honorary Fellow at Centre for Policy Research and International Studies, University Sains Malaysia (USM).
He was also the fifth Vice-Chancellor of USM, a position that he held from 2000-2011. Prior to that, he served as USM’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (July-November, 2000) and the Founding Director of the National Poison Centre from 1995 to 2000 and WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Information for the Western Pacific Region from 1998.
In 2017, Dzulkifli Abdul Razak became the Chairperson of the Establishment of Network for the Qur’an and Scientific Endeavours by Akademi Sains Malaysia. Before that, he was appointed as the Regional Coordinator for the Asia Pacific Region in the International Research Project: Reorienting Education and Training Systems to Improve the Lives of Indigenous Youth, led by UNESCO Chairperson at York University, Toronto, Canada.
Dzulkifli Abdul Razak’s immense contributions have led to recognitions by various parties from within and outside the country. In May 2017, he was awarded the prestigious Gilbert Medal for 2017 in recognition of his long-term commitment to an integrated approach to internationalisation as well as his hard work in supporting and developing the Higher Education dimension.
This medal also recognises his willingness to challenge the Western knowledge system and support the development and dissemination of alternative views about science, philosophy and education. He is the 7th recipient in the world and the first from Asia to receive the highest honour that could be awarded by Universitas 21 (U21), a renowned global network of 25 comprehensive universities led by selected researchers from 16 countries.
In August 2017, he received the Contribution to Society Award from the Asia HRD Awards for his transformation efforts in the education field. This award also recognises his contribution to people development. In November 2017, he was bestowed the 11th National Academic Laureate by the Malaysian government.
He has translated the world of academia, which he truly embraces, into writings. For more than twenty years since 1995, he has been a weekly columnist for Malaysia’s oldest newspaper, The News Straits Times; and in 2015 in the Op-Ed column for The Sun newspaper, which is an English daily newspaper with the largest circulation in Malaysia.
His articles dealing with various issues and topics such as education, leadership, sustainable development, and governance and management have also been compiled into books and published, and some have even been translated into Spanish and Mexican. Throughout his involvement in the leadership field, he has authored more than 1,000 articles in journals and other media and has been invited to deliver numerous keynote speeches at national and international levels.
His book, “Nurturing a Balanced Human Person – The Leadership Challenge”, won the 2016 National Book Award. Recently, his book entitled “Pentafsiran Baharu Falsafah Pendidikan Kebangsaan dan Perlaksanaannya Pasca 2020” (IIUM Press, 2019) won the National Book Award in the Premier Category (2019 National Book Award, main category).
Tuan Haji Addenan Haji Abd. Rahman, a native of Perak Darul Ridzwan, was born on 5 June 1950 and is the seventh child of 10 siblings. His character is gentle but firm and fair in every decision that he makes. As an early introduction, he received his first formal education at Sekolah Kebangsaan Slim Village in Perak. He then attended several secondary schools, namely Sekolah Izzuddin Shah, Ipoh, Perak (form 1 to form 3), Sekolah Menengah Methodist, Tanjung Malim (form 4 to form 5), and then he furthered his form 6 education at Sekolah Alam Shah, Kuala Lumpur.
His excellent academic achievements took him to the University of Malaya where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Literature (Honours) in 1974 and later to Iowa State University, the USA where he earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration in 1987. There was no stopping him, as his persistent pursuit for knowledge and his passion for self-improvement in the management field was furthered by obtaining the Certificate of Higher Education Management from the University of Oxford, United Kingdom in 1997.
He began his career as an Assistant Registrar at the Matriculation Unit of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) from 31 May 1974 until 31 October 1975. He was then transferred to the UKM, Sabah Campus from 1 December 1975 until 8 June 1976. “Only the knowledgeable one truly knows” (Hanya Jauhari Mengenal Manikam), his experience in managing several units and divisions at UKM is comprehensive and encompasses almost all areas that are required of an administrator, including working at the Public Relations Office and later at the faculty to manage dean affairs. A few years later, he was transferred to the administration division as well as being entrusted to manage students in the Student Counselling Unit.
These experiences and knowledge provided him with the opportunity to be promoted to Senior Assistant Registrar at UKM before being entrusted to the position of Director of Student Housing Unit from 1 March 1991 to 5 February 1995. The Management of UKM saw that his capabilities as an administrator continued to shine and convinced, they promoted him to be the Head of UKM’s Assistant Registrars at the Public Relations Office from 6 February 1995 until 31 December 1998. An efficient administrator, his capabilities were once again demonstrated when he was appointed UKM’s Deputy Registrar for Student Affairs from 1 January 1999 until 31 December 1999.
On 3 January 2000, he was offered by YBhg. Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Dato’ Dr. Abdul Shukor Hj. Hussin, the first Rector of KUIM, to be the first Registrar of Kolej Universiti Islam Malaysia (KUIM), which was subsequently renamed Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) in 2007. Tuan Haji Addenan Haji Abdul Rahman is among the pioneers of KUIM/USIM and he worked with minimum resources at that time. KUIM initially occupied a UKM building and subsequently moved temporarily to the Baitumal Professional Institute (IPB) Building, Kuala Lumpur.
At that time, he was assisted by only a few officers and clerks to develop the governance and administrative structure of KUIM. His office was open to all of his officers due to the small space available then, where all the available space had to be fully utilised. He made countless visits to the office of the then Minister of Education to ensure that KUIM’s operations went according to plan. His tireless efforts in ensuring that KUIM’s administrative processes were on par with other existing universities in Malaysia paid off with the convocation of the first KUIM graduands in 2003. He never considered giving up and his only hope is that all the efforts and hard work in developing KUIM would benefit the ummah.
Post-retirement, he continued to be entrusted by USIM to become the university’s Documentation, Regulation and Legal Coordinator from 15 June 2009 until 14 June 2010. As an administrator, he held firm to the principle that administrators play a crucial role in achieving the aspirations of a university. Administrators should not only be involved in the management and administrative tasks but also need to have close relationships with the heads, subordinate staff and the entire university community.
At USIM, his service and dedication were reflected in his involvement in various activities and contributions including chairing the main Committees, actively delivering talks on university management and administration, serving as a panel member in the drafting of the university curriculum, participating in sports and other major university activities. Following these involvements, he was conferred the Special Award and the Excellent Service Award by the KUIM Rector in 2001. He has also been awarded several prestigious medals including Pingat Jasa Kebaktian (PJK) and Ahli Setia Negeri Sembilan (ANS) by His Royal Highness Yang Di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan.
He is a real and living example of an individual with highly charismatic, integrated, holistic and balanced qualities. Tuan Haji Addenan Haji Abd. Rahman has a strong foundation in the administration field and excellent experience and expertise in governance and organisational strengthening aspects.
Members of the Board of Directors, Top Management and the entire USIM community wish him the heartiest congratulation and gratitude on the conferment of the award.