Taylor appointed as Johor UoSM new CEO
KUCHING: Professor Rebecca Taylor has been appointed as the new chief executive officer ( CEO) of University of Southampton Malaysia ( UoSM) in Johor.
Taylor will also serve as provice chancellor (Asean), taking a leading role in engaging partner organisations and representing the university in the Asean region and elsewhere around the world.
Now in its sixth year of operation, UoSM offers split campus ( UK and Malaysia) degree programmes as well as postgraduate research opportunities in engineering within the EduCity development in Iskandar, Malaysia, the nation’s economic zone located in Johor just minutes from Singapore.
“I’m delighted to be joining the UoSM and particularly pleased to have my appointment confirmed by the Malaysian government with whom we have a very close working relationship,” said Taylor in a press statement issued by the university.
She said the university has an outstanding team in Malaysia who are fully committed and engaged in building on Southampton’s continued success.
“Through our future strategy, we will explore ways of expanding the portfolio of high quality education, research and enterprise that we offer in Malaysia and across the Asean region -- a hallmark of the University of Southampton ( UoS).
“We also look forward to further developing our links with industry and other partners in Malaysia and the wider Asean region, using our strengths to help fill their skills gaps,” she remarked.
A highly experienced educator and academic leader, Taylor’s research interests lie in the field of International Economics and Developments in Economics Education.
Throughout her career, she has designed and directed projects focussed on innovative approaches to the teaching and learning of mathematics and statistics in Economics.
She has also worked with the Economic and Social Research Council and the Higher Education Academy in addressing the identified skills deficit in quantitative methods across the social sciences.
Taylor is also the vice president (Academic) of the European Foundation for Management Development ( EFMD), the organisation that awards EQUIS and EPAS accreditation to business schools globally, and she is a member of the Board of the Chartered Management Institute Malaysia.
Apart from these, she is also the chair of the European Online Course Certification Board ( EOCCS) and regularly contributes to conferences and workshops related to developments and innovation in higher education.
Meanwhile, UoS president and vice chancellor Prof Sir Christopher Snowden said the university is excited and enthused by Taylor’s appointment.
“I know that her engagement and expertise will be invaluable in developing and advancing the high quality educational and research opportunities we’ve established in Malaysia.”
He also expressed his appreciation to Taylor’s predecessors Prof John McBride and Prof Peter Smith for their leadership and direction over the past six years.