Congratulations Professor Dato’ Dr Ir Faisal Rafiq Mahamd Adikan on being appointed as Monash University Malaysia’s next Vice President (Research and Development).
Professor Rafiq, who served as Universiti Sains Malaysia’s eighth Vice-Chancellor from 2019 to 2022, joins from his present role as USM’s Director of Advanced Medical and Dental Institute and Senate representative to its Board of Governors. Prior to leading USM, Professor Rafiq was with Universiti Malaya for 22 years.
Professor Rafiq earned his PhD in integrated optical devices from the University of Southampton in 2007. His work on flat fibres garnered international recognition and led to an international patent and the establishment of one of the first research-purpose Flat Fibre Laboratories in Southeast Asia. In 2017, he received the Malaysia Toray Science Foundation’s Science and Technology Award for his contributions to photonics. Professor Rafiq is also the co-founder of Flexilicate Sdn Bhd, an award-winning startup that provides optical fibre solutions to clients like NASA, Johns Hopkins University, Fujikura Limited and TDK Electronics.
As USM’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Rafiq led the university into the best financial position among Malaysia’s 20 public universities, rebounding from a deficit budget, to over RM80 million in surplus. Under his leadership, research at USM thrived; USM was ranked 4th in the world by the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings in 2022, rose to rank first in the number of SCOPUS research publications produced annually by Malaysian institutions, and secured over RM400 million in funding under the 12th Malaysia Plan. USM also ranked first in MyRA1 in 2022 and achieved its highest-ever points in MyRA2 in 2023, marking one of the university’s most impressive turnarounds to date.
Prior to assuming the role of Vice-Chancellor at USM, Professor Rafiq was a leading academic at Universiti Malaya and held various leadership positions including as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development) from 2013 to 2019 and Acting Dean and Deputy Dean of Research of the Faculty of Engineering from 2012 to 2013. Under his leadership, the Faculty of Engineering became the largest recipient of UM’s High Impact Research at RM220 million, the best in publication per academic staff as well as the largest contributor to IP filing for the University. For more, see the Monash University announcement here.
About the role
Leading research and development at a world-class university
Monash University Malaysia (MUM) is one of Malaysia’s most respected higher education institutions, and the third-largest campus of Monash University globally, ranked at 42nd in the QS World University Rankings and 54th in the Times Higher Education Rankings in 2024. Monash University Malaysia has been awarded the Berdaya Saing (Competitive) status for the SETARA rating assessment by the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia, as well as retaining a five-star rating for research excellence from the Malaysia Research Assessment. With degrees in arts and social sciences, business, engineering, information technology, medicine, psychology and health sciences, pharmacy, and science research at Monash University Malaysia focuses on issues of national and global significance.
Monash University Malaysia is located in Greater Kuala Lumpur, one of the region’s industrial hotspots. It sits in the heart of the rapidly developing economic corridor linking Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and beyond. Education and research at MUM are oriented towards deep engagement with this dynamic socio-economic and industrial landscape. MUM research focuses on issues of national and global significance, and research projects and researchers are making long term and sustainable impacts across health, economics, policy, technology, the environment and society at large.
The Vice President (Research and Development) is a senior leader of Monash University Malaysia and leads Monash University Malaysia’s research portfolio and is key to the development and implementation of our vision in providing world-class research excellence in Southeast Asia and beyond. They will identify and build upon multidisciplinary research strengths and use them to leverage the capabilities of Monash University Malaysia to continue to build its research output and impact locally and internationally. The Vice President will be expected to create connections and partnerships in research both within and outside of the Monash network, cementing Monash University Malaysia’s place as an international research hub in Asia.
As part of the senior leadership team of Monash University Malaysia, the Vice President (Research and Development) will report directly to the President and Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adeeba Kamarulzaman.
What we are looking for:
The right candidate for this role will be appointable at the level of Full Professor (Level E). They will bring strong expertise in research leadership as well as a strong international network and entrepreneurial capabilities in the higher education sector. They must be able to identify current and emerging research strengths and have the knowledge and ability to lead development to capitalise upon them and grow Monash University Malaysia’s standing and research output.
How to apply:
If you would like to apply and learn more about this please contact us as the academic search firm handling the recruitment for this position, via email to Dr Rosalind De Sailly and Dr Santi Dharmaputra, at MUM_VPResearch@desailly.com.au
Applications are to include:
- a cover letter indicating why you are interested in the position and an introduction to your vision for research and development at Monash University Malaysia, and more broadly
- a criteria statement of no more than four pages, systematically addressing the selection criteria listed in the position description
- a full academic CV
- names and contact details of five referees, including at least two who have been at a peer level or above at your organisation within the past two years.
Referees are not contacted without consultation with you first.
