UNITEN-Led Project Advances Research Performance and Impact Assessment in Malaysian Higher Education
1 September 2026
Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN) marked a significant milestone with the official handover of the Final Report for the Research Performance Assessment in Malaysian Higher Education Institutions Project on 1 September 2026 at Royal Park Hotel, UNITEN.
The report was presented by the Project Leader, Prof. Ir. Dr. Shaliza Ibrahim, AAIBE Chair of Renewable Energy at UNITEN's Institute of Sustainable Energy (ISE), and officially received by YBhg. Datuk Prof. Dr. Azlinda Azman, Director-General of Higher Education, Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE).
Funded by MOHE through the Transdisciplinary Research Grant Scheme – Strategic & Focused (TRGS-SF), the project promotes a more comprehensive approach to evaluating research performance by considering not only conventional performance indicators but also the broader impact of research on stakeholders, the environment and the nation.
A key outcome is the Research Impact Assessment (RIA) Compass, developed as a practical framework to guide higher education institutions and researchers in planning, assessing and enhancing research impact from the early stages of project conceptualisation and development.
The handover ceremony was witnessed by YBhg. Datuk Prof. Dr. Rofina Yasmin Othman, Chairman of MRANTI; YBrs. Prof. Dr. Zainal Amin bin Ayub, Deputy Director-General of Higher Education (Academic and Research); and Prof. Ir. Dr. Vigna Kumaran a/l Ramachandaramurthy, FASc, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation), UNITEN.
UNITEN extends its heartfelt congratulations to Prof. Shaliza, the project team and all participating academics and institutions for their valuable contributions to this initiative.
