KUCHING: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) has reappointed Prof Datuk Dr Mohamad Kadim Suaidi as its vice-chancellor.
In a Facebook post on Friday (Dec 18), the varsity announced that the academician had been reappointed to a two-year term, from Dec 15, 2020 to Dec 14, 2022.
“Our highest congratulations to Prof Datuk Dr Mohamad Kadim Suaidi for being reappointed as vice-chancellor for Unimas.
“It is hoped that he will continue to be a source of inspiration for the university towards academic and research excellence.”
Prof Kadim, 60, a son of Kampung Bako, Kuching had his early education at St Joseph’s School and began his career at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTeM) in 1984 before joining Unimas in 1994.
After 10 years at the varsity, he returned to UTeM in 2003 and was appointed as Unimas’ sixth vice-chancellor on April 16, 2013 succeeding then vice-chancellor and one-time Higher Education Ministry director-general Prof Dr Morshidi Sirat.
Earlier this year, when reflecting on the seventh year of his tenure as vice-chancellor, Prof Kadim said his journey had been exhilarating and tremendously satisfying.
He recalled, when first taking over the position in 2013, the baselines for Unimas were not too pretty for a 22-year-old university at the time, but it had great unexploited potential.
“The current focus on digital economy has brought about significant visibility to Unimas as we are able to optimise the various available related expertise towards meeting the state’s requirements.
“How do we strengthen the infrastructure needed for our research and innovation at a time when public funding was reduced across all fronts.
“How can we give our students the best academic and life experiences, with the infrastructure and facilities that we had.”
With his reappointment until 2022, Prof Kadim will be the university’s longest serving vice-chancellor, ahead of Unimas founding vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Mohamad Zawawi Ismail, who served the varsity for eight years from 1992 to 2000.
