Jakarta, Indonesia — Emeritus Prof. Datuk Dr. Khairuddin bin Ab. Hamid, Vice Chancellor of University of Technology Sarawak, Malaysia, was honored with the Most Visionary Iconic Professional of the Year Award 2026 under the category Professional Leadership Excellence Award at Grand Honors 2026, organized by Star Iconic Media.
The prestigious awarding ceremony was held on 18 April 2026 at DoubleTree by Hilton Kemayoran Jakarta, Indonesia, bringing together distinguished professionals, academic leaders, institutional figures, and public service contributors whose dedication and leadership have created meaningful impact across their respective fields.
Prof. Khairuddin’s recognition reflects his distinguished leadership in higher education, particularly through his role in guiding University of Technology Sarawak as a technology-focused institution committed to academic excellence, applied learning, and the development of technical human resources in Sarawak. The official University of Technology Sarawak website identifies Prof. Datuk Dr. Khairuddin Ab Hamid as Vice Chancellor and states that UTS was founded in 2013 as the only university wholly owned by the Sarawak State Government.
His leadership at UTS is closely aligned with the university’s mission to support Sarawak’s long-term development. UTS describes itself as part of the State of Sarawak’s vision to establish a world-class higher learning institution that can help produce technical human resources for the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy, while providing students with access to affordable world-class university education in science and technology.
Prof. Khairuddin’s professional journey also reflects a long-standing contribution to Malaysian academia. Public profile information notes that he served as the founding dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, later became Deputy Vice Chancellor from 2001 to 2008, and served as Vice Chancellor of UNIMAS from 2008 until 2013.
His leadership experience extends across several major academic institutions. The International Telecommunication Union profile identifies Prof. Dr. Khairuddin Ab Hamid as a former Vice Chancellor of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak and notes that he graduated with a PhD from the University of Essex in electronic systems engineering.
At University of Technology Sarawak, his leadership has been associated with institutional growth, internationalization, and industry-relevant education. UTS states that the university has invested heavily in teaching and learning facilities, including laboratories, ICT infrastructure, and research and development resources, while also developing internationalization programs involving student mobility, staff exchange, academic articulation, and joint research with universities from the United Kingdom, Australia, Europe, Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, India, and ASEAN countries.
The university’s emphasis on sustainability also strengthens the relevance of his recognition. UTS notes that its campus has been awarded a Platinum rating in the Green Building Index for campus design that promotes sustainability in the built environment and energy utilization. This reflects an institutional direction that combines technological education, environmental awareness, and long-term development values.
Through the Professional Leadership Excellence Award category, Star Iconic Media acknowledges Prof. Khairuddin’s contribution as an academic leader whose work has supported institutional advancement, technical education, university governance, and human capital development. His career represents the qualities of visionary leadership: building institutions, nurturing academic communities, and aligning higher education with the needs of society and industry.
At Grand Honors 2026, the recognition of Emeritus Prof. Datuk Dr. Khairuddin bin Ab. Hamid stood as a tribute to professional excellence in higher education leadership, honoring his role in shaping academic institutions and contributing to the advancement of technology-based education in Malaysia.
