PENANG, 26 January 2026 – Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Seri Ir. Dr. Abdul Rahman Mohamed shared insights in his speech at the Vice-Chancellor’s Address 2026 at Dewan Tuanku Syed Putra (DTSP) recently.

The address outlined USM’s commitment to excellence and global impact, aligning with the Malaysia Higher Education Plan (RPTM) 2026–2035.

In the speech, the Vice-Chancellor addressed Artificial Intelligence (AI) not as something to shy away from, but as something to integrate into its teaching and learning programmes, in line with the mandate by the Minister of Higher Education, who designated AI as a Core Enabler in curriculum, research, governance and national talent development.

“In 2025, USM successfully integrated AI into 69 out of 84 academic programmes (82%), and aims to achieve 100% AI integration in its academic programmes by 2026,” Abdul Rahman stated.

USM is also slated to be at the forefront of using technology and AI in flexible learning, in line with the Ministry of Higher Education's focus on digital transformation in higher education, as USM will also offer stackable academic programmes in Artificial lntelligence and AI-driven management in 2026.

The address also gave attention to seven key focus areas for higher education in Malaysia, as emphasised by the Minister of Higher Education, Dato’ Seri Diraja Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir.

The seven key areas include talent development that was showcased by the various achievements, such as leadership programmes iFuture@USM 2025, international recognition in sports, including gold and silver medals at the ASEAN University Games and a gold medal at the SEA Games Thailand 2025.

“All these achievements do not happen by chance. They are born from a comprehensive talent development ecosystem that emphasises discipline, mental resilience, team leadership and global competitiveness, in producing students who are balanced in terms of intellect, character and performance,” added Abdul Rahman.

Another highlight of the address was the acknowledgement of the government support of RM599 million provided to USM under the First Rolling Plan (RP1) of the 13th Malaysia Plan, which will be used strategically in many projects.

“These major projects encompass new construction, upgrades and the procurement of equipment. All these initiatives are set to have a direct impact on learning, research and the well-being of the campus community,” explained Abdul Rahman.

The essence of the address is encapsulated in the theme 'Leading Excellence, Shaping Global Impact’ which reflects USM's dedication towards its APEX status holistically and internationally.

“This is more than just an expression, it is a firm assertion of responsibility which signifies that excellence cannot merely be internal but must be translated into actions that create an impact, solve problems and forge values on the stage of society and the world,” explained Abdul Rahman.

Ultimately, this vision serves as a collective call to action for the USM community to strive to achieve full potential on the world stage.

Text: Sara Hannah Sahan Shah, House of Media (HOMe@MPRC) / Editor: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin / Photo: Mohd Fairus Md. Isa