Welcome, Professor Rafiq!
Following an extensive international search process, we are pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Dato’ Dr Ir Faisal Rafiq Mahamd Adikan as Monash University Malaysia's next Vice President (Research and Development). He will commence in the role on 9 July 2024.
Professor Rafiq, who served as Universiti Sains Malaysia’s eighth Vice-Chancellor from 2019 to 2022, joins us 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.
As DVC, Professor Rafiq revitalised UM’s Varsity Lake, introduced teaching facilities called the CUBE, explored concession models in bringing development to the University, and secured UM as one of the best urban universities in the UI Green Index rankings.
These achievements reflect Professor Rafiq’s exemplary leadership across research, teaching and administration. We have every confidence that with Professor Rafiq at the helm of our R&D endeavours, Monash University Malaysia will grow exponentially in its reputation as the University’s hub for research excellence in Malaysia and the region.
In recognition of his contributions to the state, Professor Rafiq was conferred Penang’s Darjah Yang Mulia Pangkuan Negeri in 2021.
We look forward to the exciting contributions he will make to our community, and to the boundaries of innovation, collaboration and scholarly excellence we will push together.