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DATO’ TS DR NAGULENDRAN KANGAYATKARASU

Secretary -General, Ministry of Youth and Sports
PhD in Environmental and Geographical Sciences (Graduated in 2018)

Dato’ K. Nagulendran, a career civil servant, has held senior positions across several key Malaysian ministries, including various iterations of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. He currently serves as the Secretary -General of the Ministry of Youth and Sports. 
 
“We must use data and interdisciplinary sciences to make informed decisions and shape effective policies including legal frameworks,” he emphasises. “As government agencies, it’s vital that we listen to and understand the needs of our stakeholders.” 
 
Dato’ Nagulendran began his academic journey with a degree in microbiology from a public university in Penang in 1994. The following year, he joined the Malaysian civil service, beginning a distinguished career in public administration. 
 
In 2002, he was awarded the prestigious Chevening Scholarship to pursue a Master’s in Environmental Management at the 188体育网址_188体育在线-【唯一授权网站】@ of Nottingham in the UK. “188体育网址_188体育在线-【唯一授权网站】@ in Nottingham was eye-opening,” he recalls. “It gave me an international perspective on domestic issues in my field, and it also allowed me to engage meaningfully in cultural and social life.” During his time there, he founded the university’s Hindu Society, which was later named the Best New Society, and he participated actively in local community programmes. 

A decade later, he returned to the 188体育网址_188体育在线-【唯一授权网站】@ of Nottingham, this time at its Malaysia campus (UNM), to pursue a PhD in Environmental and Geographical Sciences, focusing on biodiversity governance. He chose UNM for its strong academic reputation and its ability to deliver a UK-standard education in a Malaysian context. 
 
“UNM allowed me to continue my journey with Nottingham in a setting directly relevant to my work in government,” he shares. “It was a rigorous programme, but also gave me the space and flexibility to explore related subject areas and build networks — which were essential in gaining a holistic education. I was also fortunate to have a superb PhD supervisor.” 
 
His doctoral research examined the governance of protected areas in Peninsular Malaysia, including their role in national development planning. During his time at UNM, he actively participated in Mindset — an interdisciplinary open forum at the Kuala Lumpur Teaching Centre that encouraged diverse perspectives on environmental management and conservation. He found the discussions there invaluable in enriching his research and broadening his worldview. 
 
His academic journey took him beyond borders where he presented his research at conferences in the United States, Germany, Japan, Norway, and India. “The experience was hands-on and deeply enriching,” he says. “It proved to me that academic work can directly inform public policy.” Indeed, his research findings were presented to the Economic Planning Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department as input for the 11th Malaysia Plan in 2015 which was proud milestone for both him and his supervisor. 
 

During his time at UNM, he received several accolades for his contribution and academic excellence: the UNM Excellence Award in 2014, the Postgraduate Prize Award in 2016, and the Vice-Chancellor’s Medal in 2017. 
 
He expresses deep gratitude to his family, friends, supervisor Professor. Dr. Ahimsa Campos-Arceiz, and UNM for all the support throughout his doctoral journey — a journey that he credits as central to his professional and personal growth. 
 
Today, Dato’ Nagulendran remains steadfast in his commitment to ensuring that science and empathy guide national policymaking. “The 188体育网址_188体育在线-【唯一授权网站】@ of Nottingham, both in the UK and Malaysia shaped how I think and how I serve,” he reflects. “It taught me that good governance goes beyond policy. Most importantly, it’s about the people.”