Dzulkifli Abdul Razak (or for short, Dzul) was the sixth Rector of the International Islamic University Malaysia from 31 st July 2018 until 30 th July 2024. He was the Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) from 2000-2011. He is the 14th president of the International Association of Universities (IAU), a UNESCO-affiliated organisation, based in Paris. He was the Convenor of the Regional Centre for Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development based in USM, one of seven pioneering centres worldwide, beginning 2005. Dzul was awarded the prestigious 2017 Gilbert Medal by Universitas 21 in recognition of “his long-term commitment to a sustainable approach to international higher education." He is a Senior Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (FASc), Fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science (FWAAS) and the World Academy of Islamic Management (FWAIM).
Dzul was an Honorary Professor at the University of Nottingham from 2014 until August 2020. He is a member of the Advisory Board of the Right Livelihood College Steering Committee based at University of Bonn and an Advisory Board Member, Institute of Sustainable Development and Learning at Leuphana University of Luneburg. He was an invited speaker at the 2015 Nobel Dialogue in Sweden. In October 2020, he was appointed as a member of Qatar Foundation Higher Education Strategy Advisory Panel. Besides, Dzul is also a member of the UN Academic Network for Development Dialogue (ANDD), and National Digital Economy & Fourth Industrial Revolution Council. In February 2021, he was invited to serve as an Expert for the Futures of Higher Education Project at UNESCO’s International Institute for Higher Education (IESALC) based in Caracas.
Dzul was awarded the 2017 Tokoh Akademik Negara (National Academic Laureate) and recipient of a number of Honorary Doctorates from various international universities. Locally, in October 2018, he was conferred Professor Emeritus by USM, whilst in November 2019, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) conferred him an Honorary Doctorate of Dakwah and Islamic Management in recognition of his efforts in widening the dimensions of dakwah through various research and leadership while serving at the University. In addition, the Government of Japan, in recognition of his contribution to the academic collaboration and exchanges between the two nations has conferred him “The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon” in September 2019. In mid-December 2021 he was conferred an Honorary Doctor of Leadership in Education by the University of Cyberjaya. In May 2023, Dzul was a recipient of the Tobacco Control Icon Award. In September 2023, he was invited as a panellist for 3 sessions in Seoul
2023 Nobel Prize Dialogue.
Since 1995 Dzul writes weekly Op-Ed columns for Malaysia’s dailies especially, The New Straits Times and Utusan Malaysia.
