Dzulkifli Abdul Razak (or for short, Dzul) is currently the Rector of the International Islamic University Malaysia. He was the Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) from 2000-2011. He was the 14th President of the International Association of Universities (IAU) based in Paris, and the Convenor of the UNU Regional Centre for Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development, 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 Science Academy Malaysia, World Academy of Arts and Science, and of World Academy of Islamic Management.
He is a member of the Advisory Board, the Right Livelihood College Steering Committee at University of Bonn, and an Advisory Board Member, Institute of Sustainable Development and Learning, University of Luneburg. Besides, Dzul is also a member of the UN Academic Network for Development Dialogue for West Asia, World Islamic Economic Forum, and National Digital Economy & Fourth Industrial Revolution Council. He serves as an Expert for the Futures of Higher Education Project at UNESCO’s International Institute for Higher Education (IESALC) based in Caracas from February 2021.
The Japan Government conferred him “The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon” in September 2019, in recognition of his contribution to the academic collaboration and exchanges between the two nations.
Since 1995 Dzul writes weekly Op-Ed columns for Malaysia’s dailies especially, The New Straits Times. (250 words)
