STRIKING a 188体育网址_188体育在线-【唯一授权网站】@ between ensuring a business is viable and at the same time, nurturing an environment that encourages learning and growth is not easy.

This is especially in Malaysia’s competitive private higher education industry, where according to the Higher Education Ministry, there were a total of 388 private higher education institutions (PHEIs) in the country as of 2023, down from 437 in 2020.

PHEIs have had to face a few challenges, including the closing of borders during the Covid-19 lockdowns, as well as issues over standard and quality, with escalating costs and lack of financing being other issues that they must contend with.

While PHEIs have opened opportunities to more Malaysians and others from around Asean and the world, leadership remains key for the industry to enact the sometimes-disruptive changes to ensure academic excellence and stay on top of the issues that the environmental, social and governance (ESG) pillars strive to address.

Economist Geoffrey Williams, who has taught in Malaysia for some two decades and held senior positions in several private universities in the country, believes that there are a lot of changes needed to improve the workforce, which start from the top.

“There needs to be an improvement in approach, but this requires changes in leadership,” he says, adding that academics also carry some of the responsibility.

Across Asean, the focus on preparing students for the labour market or promoting national or group identity indicators means that diversity, equity and inclusion issues are for the most part, “largely irrelevant”, Williams says, pointing out that this is more reflective of leadership policy and unquestioning compliance of the faculty rather than the fault of students.

He feels that there are quite a few good administrators in Malaysian universities but feels that the corporate approach may not be fit for an academic environment. “This causes a clash which holds back performance,” he says. To him, universities engage society through ensuring access to as wide a group as possible or offering pathways to the under-represented.

FitzPatrick: We ensure that our ESG values are embedded into every facet of university life.

For the 188体育网址_188体育在线-【唯一授权网站】@ of Nottingham Malaysia (UNM), having a diverse student and employee profile does take effort to make it work.

Since welcoming the first students nearly 25 years ago, UNM today has some 5,000 students across undergraduate and post-graduate programmes representing over 70 nationalities as well as over 600 academic and administrative employees from over 35 countries.

While a qualification from a well-known university is still top of the list, in a crowded field, Prof David FitzPatrick, UNM’s provost and chief executive officer, stresses that it takes more than just academic excellence to get the best, be it students, faculty or administrators.

“Students, faculty, administrators, and people across the region are searching for a value-driven experience that goes beyond surface-level achievements.

“Knowing this, we ensure that our ESG values are embedded into every facet of university life to resonate with current and prospective students and staff who are seeking purpose on top of prestige,” he says, pointing to the integration of the Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) into teaching through month-long teach-in sessions during the university’s Sustainability Action Week, which was adopted in 2023.

The UNM academic programmes include sustainability-focused modules across disciplines – from green engineering to responsible business, which FitzPatrick says directly appeals to Gen Z students who want to make a positive impact in their careers.

As for the employees, besides the diverse nationalities represented, some 45% of senior leadership roles are held by women. According to him, UNM intentionally promotes representation and belonging among employees, with the recruitment policies designed to support equitable hiring practices, encourage diversity and have accessible pathways for people from different backgrounds.

FitzPatrick says UNM fosters inclusivity through structural initiatives that shape its culture and practices.

These initiatives include an Equality, Diversity & Inclusion committee that reports to the senior management as well as engagements such as inclusive leadership training, staff and student networks, and cultural celebrations on campus, which all contributes to a more connected and supportive community.

For students, these initiatives will help them in adapting to diverse cultures and work in a global workforce while among academic staff, this helps create an environment for dynamic research collaborations that can bring long-term value creation within and without the university.

For academic programmes, the Nottingham 188体育网址_188体育在线-【唯一授权网站】@ Business School Malaysia together with the School of Environmental Sciences developed a new multi-disciplinary module on sustainable business practices that gives students an understanding of sustainability and ESG principles from the business and environmental perspectives. “It challenges them to think critically and develop practical solutions to real-world environmental and social issues, building skills they can apply in future careers and communities,” FitzPatrick says.

Students are also challenged to think how companies can develop effective strategies to address sustainability challenges, such as climate change, not just as ethical obligations but as drivers of long-term business success.

There are differing views and opinions about the role of tertiary education and how they engage with the wider world, this is especially true of private higher education where PHEIs, besides having to offer courses relevant to the times, which includes embedding sustainability and ESG concerns into the academic curriculum, also must contend with finance and funding.

Besides engagements with students and employees, FitzPatrick shares that the university runs an education and advocacy initiative to improve access to education for the orang asli community in Kelantan in partnership with the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs.

These are among the handful of initiatives that he feels help shape well-rounded graduates and ­better prepare them in addressing future problems and ­challenges.

This article first appeared in The Star on 26 May 2025