An academic figure who is also the former Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Teknologi MARA, Professor Emeritus Dato’ Dr. Hassan Said was appointed as the Chairman of the Board of Governors of Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN) effective May 30.
He replaces Dato’ Sri Hasan Arifin who is also the Chairman of Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), who has held the post since December 2021.
Dr. Hassan was the President and Vice-Chancellor of Taylor’s University from August 2008 to January 2016 and former Vice-Chancellor at Asia e-University, Malaysia (AeU), from February 2019 to January 2021.
He held the position of Director of Higher Education from January 2005 to April 2008, having a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from the University of Manchester, United Kingdom; followed by a Master of Science and a Doctor of Philosophy from Brunel University, UK.
The 67-year-old Kelantan native is the recipient of the prestigious Chevalier de I ‘Orde National du Merite Award from the French Government in 2007.
His prowess was also recognized by the University of Toulouse Jean Jaures, France, one of the oldest and leading public universities in Europe, which awarded an Honorary Doctorate (Doctor Honoris Causa). Dr Hassan was the first Southeast Asian to be given this award.
Dr Hassan, who has 17 research publications, was also awarded Honorary Doctors from various universities in the UK and Malaysia, including The University of Birmingham (UOB), University of West England, UK, Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UNiMAP), and Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM).
Currently, Dr Hassan is a Member of the Education Committee at the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP), Board of Directors for the Securities Industry Development Corporation (SIDC) at the Securities Commission Malaysia, Member of the Higher Education Advisory Committee at the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia (MOHE), Board Member Director of Awantech Technology Berhad and many more.
Dato ’Sri Hasan Arifin who is also the Chairman of the UNITEN Board of Directors congratulated on this appointment while expressing confidence that Dr. Hassan will be able to help UNITEN in a more brilliant direction.
“I represent the Board Members of UNITEN and TNB, I am very proud of this appointment because Dato ‘Dr. Hassan is a respected academic figure.
“Certainly he can together contribute to the development of UNITEN in line with the aspiration of making UNITEN a globally competitive energy-focused university by 2025.”
“UNITEN, in pursuing the aspirations of BOLD2025 will benefit from the appointment of Dato ‘Dr. Hassan has extensive experience as a Board Member in various public and private universities, as well as council members in various corporate bodies in Malaysia and abroad, “he added.
