Top 10 of Asia recently had the privilege of interviewing Prof. Dr. Mas Fawzi bin Mohd Ali, the fifth Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM). He leads the institution at a pivotal moment, as it advances toward global prominence in sustainable technology and transportation. Backed by extensive experience in education, administration and business, he brings robust, well-rounded leadership to one of the nation’s foremost technical universities.
Prof. Dr. Mas Fawzi is motivated to take on his leadership position by a distinct vision for the future of UTHM. “As Vice-Chancellor, it is my responsibility to make sure that UTHM continues to excel in academics, research and innovation,” he says. “I am entrusted with ensuring that the university remains relevant to current and future needs and strengthening national and international collaborations.”
Understanding UTHM’s identity today requires a look at its evolution. Established in 1993 as Pusat Latihan Staf Politeknik (PLSP), it was created to train polytechnic lecturers in engineering fields. Jointly managed by UTM and the Ministry of Education, PLSP laid the groundwork for what would grow into a respected technical institution.
In 1996, PLSP was upgraded to Institut Teknologi Tun Hussein Onn (ITTHO), “a move that reflected national recognition of its excellence in producing skilled human capital,” explains Prof. Dr. Mas Fawzi. It changed its name to Kolej Universiti Teknologi Tun Hussein Onn (KUiTTHO) four years later, signifying its growing significance in the advancement of science and technology.
Due to its advancements, the institution was granted full university status by 2006, and it was formally renamed Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia in 2007. UTHM is today a vibrant, specialist university known for its technological and engineering strengths.
The university’s goals are defined by its vision: “To be a global technical university in sustainable technology and transportation.” According to the Vice-Chancellor, this vision forms the essence of UTHM as a Global Technopreneur University 2030 (#GTU2030). He states, “We aim to build a culture of technopreneurship where innovation and commercialisation are embedded in our research and education ecosystem.”
For Prof. Dr. Mas Fawzi, the aim is not merely to produce graduates with strong academic outcomes, but to nurture innovators capable of driving technological solutions and creating new ventures. “We want our graduates to be highly competent, professional and entrepreneurial—driven who can contribute directly to industry and community development,” he adds.
When asked about the factors behind UTHM’s consistent growth, the Vice-Chancellor highlights three key pillars: specialised technical focus, industry relevance and a robust technopreneurship ecosystem.
“By positioning ourselves as a technical university, we have been able to invest deeply in high-demand fields such as engineering,” he explains. This concentration of expertise has enabled UTHM to build strong infrastructure and cultivate a talented academic community. Equally important is the institution’s alignment with real-world needs. UTHM’s graduates enjoy consistently high employability, which he attributes to “our commitment to ensuring that the curriculum is always aligned with industry expectations, and that our students graduate with both theoretical knowledge and practical, job-ready skills.”
The university’s future course is also determined by the third factor, which is the drive towards technopreneurship. UTHM is cultivating a new generation of tech-driven entrepreneurs that may make significant contributions to Malaysia’s innovation landscape by promoting the commercialisation of research.
Prof. Dr. Mas Fawzi sees UTHM developing into a worldwide renowned centre for entrepreneurship, innovation, and research in the future. “We will strengthen industry partnerships, promote applied research in areas such as green technology, artificial intelligence and smart manufacturing, and build a vibrant start-up culture through innovation hubs and incubation programmes,” he says.
Additionally, UTHM will prioritise sustainability, global engagement, and digital transformation during the next ten years. The institution’s strategic direction is closely integrated with the UN Sustainable Development Goals to guarantee that it makes responsible and inclusive contributions to the growth of society.
With strong leadership and a steadfast commitment to innovation, UTHM is well-positioned to impact Malaysia’s technical education and global research landscape—one technopreneur at a time—under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Mas Fawzi.