Dr Syed Ahmad is new LAN chief

By KAREN CHAPMAN

»As it is the government’s intention to make Malaysia a centre of educational excellence, I look forward to working with all parties concerned« DATUK DR SYED AHMAD HUSSEIN

PUTRAJAYA: Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Centre for Policy Research and International Studies director Prof Datuk Dr Syed Ahmad Hussein will be the new chairman and chief executive of the National Accreditation Board (LAN).

Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed said the appointment was effective from July 1.

“Prof Syed Ahmad has served on LAN’s board of directors since its establishment in 1997,” he said when announcing the appointment yesterday after opening the New Zealand Education Symposium here.

Associate Prof Zita Mohd Fahmi has been the acting LAN chairman and chief executive since Tan Sri Dr Mohd Salleh Mohd Yasin left to take up the post of director at the newly established United Nations University International Institute for Global Health in March.

A political scientist, Dr Syed Ahmad was previously USM deputy vice-chancellor (academic and international affairs) and School of Social Sciences dean.

His association with USM dates back 37 years, when he joined as an undergraduate in 1970 before continuing with his masters and PhD at Yale University in the United States.

“As it is the government’s intention to make Malaysia a centre of educational excellence, I look forward to working with all parties concerned,” Dr Syed Ahmad said when contacted.

Earlier, Mustapa said the ministry was encouraging more lecturers to pursue doctoral studies in New Zealand.

“This is not just because of the quality of its education but also the fact that New Zealand charges international doctoral students the same fees as local students,” he said.