INDUSTRY-ALUMNI SYNERGY STRENGTHENS UNISZA’S POSITION

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 5 (Bernama) -- Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) continues to strengthen its reputation for excellence, with its industry partnerships and the involvement of more than 46,000 alumni now serving as key drivers of the university’s rapid growth.

Its vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Fadzli Adam said strategic partnerships with various industry players have significantly strengthened UniSZA’s academic rankings, graduate employability and overall education ecosystem.

“Industry partners are the nation’s strategic development partners, while alumni carry UniSZA’s image across the world as a reflection of the university’s values and culture,” he said at the UniSZA Industry Partners and Alumni Appreciation Night (MARIA) 2025 here today.

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He said that in terms of global rankings, UniSZA is currently ranked in the 1001-1200 band in the QS World University Rankings 2026 and 486th in the QS Asia University Rankings, while continuing to maintain its five-star Malaysian Higher Education Institutions Rating System (SETARA) status.

He said these achievements are the result of the commitment of the university members, together with strong support from industry partners and alumni in strengthening teaching, research and innovation.

UniSZA has also expanded its global network through collaborations with more than 100 higher education institutions across West Asia, ASEAN, East Asia and Europe, and launched the UniSZA International Alumni Chapter in Lombok, Indonesia, last November. It will be further extended to the Middle East and Africa in efforts to enhance the university’s international presence.

Fadzli said UniSZA also implements programmes such as CEO@Faculty and the Academia at Industry Engagement Programme (AIEP), which provide students and staff with real-world industry exposure.

Meanwhile, UniSZA Board of Directors chairman Datuk Dr Sirajuddin Suhaimee said MARIA 2025 reflects the close collaboration between industry partners, alumni and the university, underscoring the strong ties built since the institution’s early days as a college.

Sirajuddin, himself an early alumnus of UniSZA, stressed that the support of industry partners and alumni remains fundamental to the university’s progress.

He also highlighted the value of synergy achieved through the CEO@Faculty programme, which brings corporate leaders to campus to share real-world insights — knowledge he described as ‘not found in books’, yet vital for students and lecturers to understand industry realities.

At the event, UniSZA also launched the MARIA 2025 Industry Partners and Alumni Crowdfunding Fund, which is open for contributions in support of educational initiatives, student welfare and university development.

-- BERNAMA