JOHOR BAHRU, Sept 27 – In a grand ceremony held at the Pekin Daiman Restaurant, the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (Southern Branch) celebrated its “Annual Dinner & Awards Night 2025.” The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the esteemed “IEM (Southern Branch) Prestigious Engineering Lecturers’ Award,” an honour that recognises academicians who set the highest standards of excellence in engineering education.
The award celebrates lecturers who make a broad impact, judged across five main areas: academic excellence, student impact, innovation in teaching, professional involvement, and recognition and achievements.
Among the four distinguished recipients was Professor Ir. Dr. Sharul Kamal Abdul Rahim from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). His outstanding career and excellent contributions to the engineering community earned him this well-deserved recognition.
A Career of Distinction and Dedication
Professor Sharul’s journey in engineering began with a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering from the University of Tennessee, United States of America (USA). He went on to earn a Master’s in Communication Engineering from UTM and a PhD in Wireless Communication Systems from the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom (UK).
His career, which started in the industry, found its true calling at UTM’s prestigious Wireless Communication Centre in 2001. Through dedication and groundbreaking work, he rose to the rank of Professor in 2017. His research, primarily in antenna design, smart antennas, and beamforming networks, has placed UTM on the global map of wireless communication research.
His scholarly output is nothing short of remarkable, with authorship of 21 books and book chapters, and over 150 papers published in leading international journals, including the highly respected Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Transactions on Antennas and Propagation. His research prowess is further demonstrated by over 56 academic and research awards, supported by 41 research grants, and protected by 11 patents and 15 copyrights.
Embodiment of the Award’s Core Values
Professor Sharul’s distinguished profile serves as a perfect embodiment of the award’s rigorous criteria. His commitment to academic excellence and innovation in teaching is demonstrated through his consistent delivery of high-quality education and the development of creative teaching methodologies that have significantly enhanced the engineering curriculum at UTM. Beyond the syllabus, his student impact is profound; he is widely recognised for motivating and inspiring students through dedicated mentorship and supervision, actively guiding the next generation of engineers towards success.
His professional involvement within the engineering ecosystem is extensive. As an active Registered Professional Engineer (Ir.) and a member of the Engineering Accreditation Council of the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM). His dedication to the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) for Southern Branch is evident through his key leadership roles, having served as an Executive Committee member and Vice Chairman, a position he holds once again. Furthermore, his influence extends globally, serving as Chairman of two International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Technical Committees under Standards Malaysia. This vast involvement is complemented by his notable recognition and achievements. Beyond his impressive record of publications and research grants, he is a sought-after voice in his field, frequently invited as a keynote, plenary, and invited speaker at international conferences. His esteemed professional standing is firmly cemented by his senior membership in the IEEE and his corporate membership in IEM.
May Professor Ir. Dr. Sharul Kamal Abdul Rahim continues to be a leading figure, inspiring the academic, research, and professional engineering communities alike.
UTM proudly congratulates Professor Ir. Dr. Sharul Kamal Abdul Rahim on receiving the IEM Southern Branch Prestigious Engineering Lecturers’ Award 2025.
