Invited Paper - New Academia in Student Learning Experience

Prof. Zaini Ujang is a professional environmental engineer cum scientist who integrates studies on water ecology with engineering systems towards pollution control and sustainability, especially with reference to river rehabilitation in developing countries. His interest in the field leads him to collaborate with leading scholars worldwide, particularly in membrane bioreactor, granulation process and biofouling control. At present he is leading the oldest technical university in Malaysia and South East Asia, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. He also sits on various boards, such as the Chemical Companies of Malaysia (CCM), Institute of Sultan Iskandar for Urban Habitat and High Rise Buildings, private universities Multimedia Technology Enhancement Operations Sdn Bhd (METEOR) and Chair of Proton Technology Advisory Council, a leading car manufacturer in South East Asia. For his remarkable contribution to the nation, he became the first recipient of the prestigious Malaysia Merdeka Award 2009 for the category of Outstanding Scholastic Achievement. He has been conferred the Darjah Seri Setia Tuanku Muhriz Yang Amat Terbilang(SSTM) award by His Royal Highness Yang Di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus in conjunction with the Birthday of the Yang Di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan on 14 January, 2013. He also has conferred the Panglima Jasa Negara (PJN) award by His Majesty Yang Di-Pertuan Agong in conjunction with the Birthday of the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong on 2 June, 2012. He is the ”Tokoh Maal Hijrah 1433H” of Negeri Sembilan 2011. Zaini obtained his B.Eng. (Chem. Eng.) from UTM, and MSc and PhD in environmental engineering from University of Newcastle, UK. He is also an alumni of the Harvard Business School (AMP 177), a Fellow of the Academy of Science Malaysia, Senior Advisor to the Prince Khalid bin Sultan Chair on Water Research, King Saud University, Chairman of the Environmental Quality Council, Malaysia and Fellow of the Institute of Chemical Engineers, UK. He has been registered more than 20 intellectual property rights, published more than 250 technical papers and 27 books.