Prof Awang Bulgiba to lead UM for the next six months

KUALA LUMPUR: The role of Universiti Malaya’s vice-chancellor is being carried out by Prof Dr Awang Bulgiba Awang Mahmud (pic) to give him an opportunity to prove himself.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said the select com- mittee made the decision to give Prof Awang Bulgiba, who is currently deputy vice-chancellor (academic and international), the chance to lead the university for the next six months. “The select committee will (then) evaluate his performance,” he said after delivering the keynote address at the National Higher Education Conference 2017.

Idris said temporary appointments were not the norm, adding that the decision was made after vice-chancellor Prof Tan Sri Dr Mohd Amin Jalaludin suffered a stroke.

The ministry also decided that Prof Mohd Amin should not continue because of his condition, he added.

Idris said there was a selection process for vice-chancellors before the names of the best candidates land on his table.

“Nominated candidates are profiled by the Higher Education Leadership Academy (AKEPT),” he said.

The best candidates will then be interviewed by the select committee before their names are sent to him.

“Usually, they bring two to three names, but there are occasions when only one name is given, when they are very certain who the best candidate is,” he said.

The Star reported on Sunday that it could be some time before UM’s vice-chancellor post is filled.

The conference with the theme “How To Make Our Universities More Autonomous” was organised by the Institute of Democracy and Economic Affairs and supported by Yayasan Sime Darby.