PENANG, 25 March 2013 - Another Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) community member has been entrusted by the Minister of Higher Education to lead a university of the country.

After Professor Dato’ Asma Ismail having appointed as the Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), Professor Morshidi Sirat who had just celebrated his 57th birthday on 3 March, was appointed as the Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) with effect from 1 April. He confirmed having received the letter of appointment recently.

The professor of Geography in the School of Humanities was previously Deputy Director-General, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Higher Education (16 February 2011 until 2 March 2013).

A native of Sarikei, Sarawak, Morshidi had his primary education at Sekolah Rendah Abang Hj. Matahir and continued his studies at Sacred Heart School, Sibu, Sarawak, and Kolej Tun Datu Tuanku Haji Bujang, Miri.

Morshidi then pursued his undergraduate studies to obtain a BA (Hons) in Town and Country Planning (Council for National Academic Awards/Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow, Scotland) in 1980 and continued his studies at postgraduate level to acquire a MSc (Econs) degree in Regional Development Planning, University College of Swansea, University of Wales in 1982. He later obtained a doctorate (PhD) from the University of Southampton, England, in 1989.

He has extensive experience in academic leadership throughout his service with USM beginning 1982.

Morshidi was appointed as Dean of USM School of Humanities (1998 - 2001); appointed as a Professor in Geography (2000); Director of the National Higher Education Research Institute (IPPTN) (2005-2011); and later Dean of Research for the USM Social Transformation Research Platform (2008 - 2009). He was also a visiting professor at the Research Institute for Higher Education (RIHE), Hiroshima University, 1-2-2 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, Japan (2008).

He has contributed numerous articles for publication in journals and proceedings of local and international conferences. He also sat in international committees of a variety of research areas that focused on Higher Education Policy and Management, Changes in the Academic Profession, Change in Higher Education Institution Ranking, and Education Space and the Region. – Text: Mohamad Abdullah/Photo: Mohd Fairus Md. Isa/Translation: Yong Check Yoon