The respected Vice-Chancellor and CEO of University Technology Petronas (UTP) Professor Dato’ Ts. Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim bin Abdul Mutalib was invited to share his vast knowledge, great expertise, and invaluable experience with the APB lecturers of UiTM Perak Branch during the Strategic Planning Workshop held at Bilik ILQAM UiTM Seri Iskandar, Perak. This workshop was organized by the Academy of Language Studies of UiTM Perak Branch or Akademi Pengajian Bahasa (APB) on the 31st of January 2024.
The talk entitled ‘Managing a World Class University’ by the respected Vice-Chancellor and CEO of University Technology Petronas (UTP) had really inspired the audience. Professor Dato’ Ts. Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim bin Abdul Mutalib began his talk by sharing his personal journey and the numerous challenges he had to overcome to achieve success from the year 1987 until the present time. His humility, great intelligence, and wit certainly captured the attention of the audience. The respected Vice-Chancellor and CEO also explained the process of how his team and him had made UTP a world class university. The task appeared monumental in the beginning but with the appropriate strategies and proper planning, UTP has managed to become a world class university. Besides emphasizing the significant role of a great leader, he also shared guidelines on cultivating leadership skills and qualities which include being able to: evoke enthusiasm and motivation, provide the necessary guidance, make decisions, communicate a clear vision, promote open communication, take ownership and accountability, and adapt to change. In addition, he had outlined several crucial principles to enhance UTP’s competitiveness which include the following: the implementation of appropriate and effective strategies in teaching and learning; identify niche areas; provide adequate support and services to enrich the learning experience of students; and most importantly create a workplace filled with a resilient, agile, and dynamic workforce.
It was apparent that the lecturers of the Academy of Language Studies of UiTM Perak Branch or Akademi Pengajian Bahasa (APB) was in awe of this enigmatic individual that constantly emphasised that a great leader should be able to provide guidance whenever necessary and should not merely be a boss giving orders. The respected Vice-Chancellor and CEO of University Technology Petronas (UTP) Professor Dato’ Ts. Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim bin Abdul Mutalib further emphasized that one sole individual cannot really achieve anything or make a significant impact as the team of individuals that create a great organization actually plays an instrumental role in determining the success of the organization.