malaysiangJOHOR BAHRU, March 25 (Bernama) — Professor Ts Mohd Hafiz Dzarfan Othman of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) has been named ‘Ahli Akademik Harapan’ (Young Academician) in the 14th National Academic Award (AAN) ceremony in Sepang last night.
In a statement today, UTM said, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob presented the award, adding that the ceremony was also attended by the top management of the Higher Education Ministry, public universities and academic agencies.
“Mohd Hafiz Dzarfan who is also UTM’s Research Alliance (Frontier Material) chair is the first Faculty of Engineering’s lecturer to be recognised in the award category since AAN was introduced in 2006,” it said, adding that the award was also a recognition of UTM’s initiative in empowering its academic staff towards a high-quality delivery.
The award recognises capable academicians, aged not more than 40 in the year under review, who have shown potential and calibre in teaching and learning as well as research, besides exhibiting excellence, leadership and collegiality at the national or international level.
In the same statement, Mohd Hafiz Dzarfan noted that the recognition was the result of efforts, supports and assistance from all quarters throughout his career, especially from UTM and the Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre (AMTEC).
“Programmes implemented by UTM have provided motivation and training to young staff like me, especially after obtaining a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) degree, such as its mentor-mentee programmes, research grants to young researchers, skills and talent development courses including supervision courses, in addition to journal writing and leadership courses,” he said.
He said that the recognition and incentives provided by UTM to acknowledge researchers’ achievements have motivated and encouraged the academic staff to push forward, adding that the research facilities in UTM especially at AMTEC are of the latest technology and world-class which helped them in carrying out high-impact research.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency
