Johor Bahru, 5 February 2025 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s (UTM) 8th Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr. Mohd Shafry Mohd Rahim, has set out an ambitious vision for the institution in his inaugural annual address.
“UTM Sanjungan Bangsa: Strengthening Institutional Credibility”, has been chosen for this year’s theme, in which he outlined strategic priorities aimed at enhancing UTM’s global reputation, fostering leadership excellence, and ensuring long-term institutional sustainability.
“The credibility of this institution does not rely solely on its leaders but encompasses the integrity of the entire university community in realising UTM’s vision to become a leading university providing world-class education and research activities,” he remarked.
Professor Shafry introduced five key strategic areas that will guide UTM’s trajectory in the coming year, namely Strengthening the Vice-Chancellor’s Leadership Framework, Nurturing the UTM Spirit, Institutional Trust, Concluding enVision UTM 2025 and A Culture of Wisdom and Well-being.
He has also emphasised the need for a more competitive academic and research ecosystem to enhance UTM’s international presence.
“For 2025, the university will enhance its international branding by positioning its expertise in teaching and research to be more competitive and play a significant role in the global higher education ecosystem,” he stated.
To facilitate this, UTM will establish a dedicated strategic unit under the Vice-Chancellor’s Office to advance institutional branding and foster international collaborations.
With 2025 marking the final phase of enVision UTM 2025, efforts will focus on ensuring a seamless transition into the next decade. UTM’s graduate employability remains a key priority, alongside high-impact research, technological advancement, and global academic engagement.
“This year, we will continue the enVision Moonshot Transformative Journey 2025, focusing on the same areas as in 2024 to ensure the continuity and completion of enVision UTM 2025,” Professor Shafry reaffirmed.
The university has also begun formulating its UTM 2030 Strategic Plan, which is set to be unveiled by the end of the year.
Recognising the importance of a healthy and resilient campus community, UTM is introducing UTM Sihat dan Lestari, a comprehensive initiative promoting well-being, sustainability, and environmental stewardship across campus.
Concluding his address, Professor Shafry called upon the UTM community to embrace a unified approach towards institutional excellence. “It is my hope that the foundation ensuring the credibility of this institution continues to be strengthened, elevating its excellence to a distinguished level and positioning UTM as the nation’s esteemed university,” he stated.
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