VC with a vision on a mission
NILAI University ( Nilai U) recently announced the appointment of Prof Datuk Dr Sothi Rachagan as its vice- chancellor, effective May 5.
Dr Sothi first joined Nilai U in 2005 as vice- president ( Academic Affairs) and was a key member of the team under the leadership of then vice- chancellor Prof Emeritus Tengku Shamsul Bahrin that quickly led Nilai College to become a university college in 2007, a full- fledged university in 2009 and rated by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency in 2012 as a Setara 5 ( Excellent) University.
He left to join Perdana University as vice- chancellor in 2013.
His return will see an emphasis on the concept of Total Student Experience – the notion that learning takes place within and beyond the classroom.
Students’ time spent in higher education is about a whole range of experiences. All aspects of these have an impact on their learning experience.
“It is our duty to help each student realise his full potential to achieve his ambition and contribute to the well- being of society. We will improve each aspect of that experience at Nilai University,” he says.
During his earlier stint, he worked on increasing the variety of specially designed modules, workshops and extra- curricular activities. Students are counselled to take modules outside their core field of study to meet their individual development needs.
He also established a system of enhanced certification – students earn additional qualifications from such professional bodies as the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants ( ACCA), Chartered Institute of Management Accountants ( CIMA), Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales ( ICEAW), Malaysian Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators ( MAICSA), the SAP Universities Alliance and AXP Solutions.
In the area of soft skills, students get certification from international bodies such as the Dale Carnegie Institute, the Outward Bound School and Mizuno Golf School. This is to give them a comparative advantage when they seek employment.
Nilai U hosts the annual Future Leaders Camp to train students with potential to become prominent leaders of tomorrow. Open to both public and private universities across the country, this event has become a fixture in the academic calendar.
The increasing competition in the higher education sector does not daunt Dr Sothi. He points out that Nilai U has strong financial credentials, being owned by the Nilai Resources Group and FELDA.
The veteran academic also firmly believes that Nilai U has successfully carved out a niche for itself in the education landscape, in no small part thanks to highly specialised programmes such as the Diploma in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering, which Dr Sothi was instrumental in helping to set up in 2008.
“The Aircraft Maintenance Engineering courses have shown niche programmes can be very successful if backed up with firstrate teaching facilities,” he says, highlighting the purpose- built hangar with two aircraft on campus.
Dr Sothi holds a BA ( Malaya), Postgrad Diploma of Arts ( Otago), MA ( Otago), LLM ( Bristol), and PhD ( London). He is a Barrister of Law ( Lincoln’s Inn) and an Advocate and Solicitor ( Malaya). Prior to joining the then Nilai College as vice- president ( Academic Affairs) in 2005, he served as Faculty of Law dean, University Malaya and Asia and the Pacific of Consumers International regional director.
In 2013, he became Perdana University’s vice- chancellor. He continues as a Malaysia Competition Commission ( MyCC) member and chairs its Committee on Advocacy, positions he has held since its inception in 2012.
For details on Nilai U and its programmes, go to www. nilai. edu. my or call 06- 850 2308 / 07- 226 2336.