A source of inspiration and mentor
PHYSICS buff Prof Datuk Dr Nor Aieni Mokhtar is also the first woman vice-chancellor at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT). She took up the position in April 2015.
The mother of six adult children, said she is proud of the fact that she is the first female vice-chancellor in the east coast of peninsular Malaysia.
She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree majoring in Physics from the State University of New York in the United States and returned to Malaysia for her PhD in Physics-Laser Technology from Universiti Teknologi (UTM).
She was a professor in UTM but has also explored other opportunites beyond academia.
She was seconded for six years at the National Oceanographic Directorate at the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry as a director/undersecretary for national research coordinator and was also the national focal point for the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of Unesco and Coral Triangle Initiative on coral reefs, fisheries and food.
At UMT, she said 60% of the 475 academics there are females.
“I have a good relationship with all staff and they respect me as a leader.
“Some of the women staff have expressed that they see me as their source of inspiration and mentor.”
Her days at the office are rarely spent actually being in her office.
She normally starts her day by reviewing her daily and weekly schedules, planning big events and important appointments. She also reviews briefing notes, documents, opening speeches, presentations and papers with her secretary, special assistants and staff.
Prof Nor Aieni starts moving around campus to attend her many meetings with staff, students and special guests.
“Most days I give speeches at official functions, present keynote addresses in seminars and conferences within UMT or other universities locally or overseas,” she said.
There are days when she doesn’t even have time to have lunch as the meetings and appointments never seem to end.
Prof Nor Aieni added that if she is lucky, she can squeeze in a quick swim to unwind before continuing with events at night and finishing all her paperwork.
Even her weekends are packed with meetings and conferences, it’s a wonder she can find any time to spend with her family.
“Obviously, expectations are very high for the different roles of being a mother, grandmother and wife on top of being a vice-chancellor,” she said.
She can “be quite adaptable” at switching between those roles thanks to proper time and expectation management.
Prof Nor Aieni said she is blessed to be given an important role in one of Malaysia’s public universities and to be able to spearhead tertiary education in the country.
“We aim to enhance governance, develop our talent, achieve academic excellence, carry out students development (including infra-structure support), strengthen research, innovation, knowledge transfer and internationalisation and income generation,” she said on her plans for UMT.