Career
Prior to his appointment as UTM Vice-Chancellor since October 2008, he served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) of the university. He was the Dean, UTM Faculty of Chemical and Natural Resources Engineering from July 2006 to March 2007. His outstanding professional and leadership skills were also demonstrated during his tenure as the Director, Institute of Environmental & Water Resource Management (IPASA), UTM from 2001-2006. He has extensive experience in formulating and implementing strategies towards positioning UTM as Malaysia’s premier university in engineering and technology, an Entrepreneurial Research University and winning national award for Intellectual Property Awards for 2007, 2009 and 2010. He drives various initiatives to position UTM as an academic research and innovation hub such as the formation of Research Alliances, KPI-based management and establishment of university-industry partnership through Iskandar Malaysia Research Centre (IMREC) and Iskandar Malaysia Academic Partnership (IMAP). He also headed the ICT committee of Malaysian Higher Education Institutions 2007-9. His management style is widely appreciated, especially for his participatory commitment and team building approach and his role as a strategic planner, team player and academic mentor. His significant role in transforming UTM into a research and graduate-focused university is proven with UTM currently having the highest number of postgraduate students in the region involved in cutting-edge research and impactful as well as value-driven innovation in science, technology and engineering.
Prof. Zaini is also instrumental in establishing the UTM Endowment Fund and outsourcing research and innovation funds, from both local and international agencies. Besides the Malaysian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), he has strong research affiliations with the Netherlands Tropical Research Foundation (WOTRO), the European Commission, the Swedish International Development Corporation Agency (SIDA), the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), the Rockefeller Foundation and leading universities in the United Kingdom, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, Italy, Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Indonesia, South Korea, Switzerland and the United States.
He has registered more than 20 intellectual property rights jointly owned with his co-workers and former students, and has commercialised six research products including (a) StormWater Filter (b) Software for Wastewater Treatment Plant Design Advisor (WASDA), (c) Hybrid Membrane Bioreactor (d) River Bank Infiltration System (e) Software on Environmental Health Risk Assessment (RISKAS) and (f) Software on Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan (ISWAM). He is in the process to commercialise a software on the Cost Estimation of Water and Wastewater Facilities (COWAS) and Aerobic Granule Production for Activated Sludge Processes.
Read more about this topic: Zaini Ujang
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