16.2.4 Participatory bodies for stakeholder engagement
Board of Director
The Board of Directors at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) functions as a primary participatory body for high-level stakeholder engagement in university governance and decision-making, chaired by the Sultan of Johor and including the Pro-Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, and 15 members drawn from national government, industry, and academic sectors. Key representatives include the Secretary General of the Ministry of Higher Education, the Chief Secretary to the Government, and executives from entities like PETRONAS and Telekom Malaysia, ensuring strategic input on policies affecting UTM's operations, research, and development. However, the composition emphasizes national and corporate perspectives, with limited direct inclusion of local stakeholders such as Johor residents, municipal authorities, or civil society organizations—including niche groups like refugee resettlement agencies—that could provide grassroots insights into community impacts. While the board's meetings and subcommittees facilitate meaningful dialogue on institutional matters, this top-down structure may constrain broader participatory mechanisms, underscoring the need for supplementary forums, such as community advisory councils or town halls, to empower local voices in decisions on campus expansions, sustainability initiatives, or social outreach programs. Overall, UTM's model promotes accountability through elite stakeholder involvement but could enhance inclusivity by integrating more localized representation to align with participatory governance ideals
Source:
https://www.utm.my/about/board-of-directors/
The Quality Council
The Quality Council at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), chaired by the Vice-Chancellor and comprising senior administrators, selected Deans, Senate representatives, and the Director of Quality as Secretary, serves as an internal participatory body focused on stakeholder-informed continuous improvement rather than broad decision-making authority. It advises on quality policy, oversees university-wide quality management, conducts management reviews, and drives strategic enhancements based on stakeholder feedback data. While the Council integrates input from students, staff, industry, and other institutional stakeholders to refine processes and performance, its membership and mandate remain exclusively internal, with no formal representation from external local stakeholders such as Johor residents, municipal government officials, or civil society organizations—including refugee resettlement agencies. This inward orientation limits its role as a mechanism for meaningful local community participation in university governance, particularly on issues like campus development, social impact, or public collaboration. To align with participatory ideals, UTM could establish complementary platforms—such as community advisory panels or public consultations—linked to the Council’s feedback loops, ensuring local voices directly influence quality objectives and institutional priorities. Currently, the Council strengthens internal accountability but falls short of enabling inclusive external stakeholder engagement in decision-making.
Source :
https://www.utm.my/about/the-quality-council/
