His appointment is from next month to Dec 31, 2023, Higher Education Minister Noraini Ahmad said in a statement today.

“I am confident with his vast experience in the administrative field, he will be able to continue to bring glory to UKM as one of the leading universities in Malaysia,” she said.

Ekhwan, 51, holds a PhD in Hydrological and Environmental Modelling, Application of Geographic Information System and Water Resource Management from Newcastle University in the UK.

He graduated from UKM with a Bachelor of Social Science degree in Geography in 1993 and later earned a Master of Science degree from Manchester University.

Before this, he was deputy director-general of the Academic and Development Division at the higher education ministry and served as UKM deputy vice-chancellor (Research and Innovation) as well as Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin deputy vice-chancellor (Research and Development).