The acknowledgment received by the staff of Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) on UUM Innovation Day and University Awards Ceremony (HIMPU) 2019 is expected to boost the fortitude amongst other members of staff to continue to add lustre to the University’s name.

UUM Pro-Chancellor, Tun Dato' Sri (Dr.) Ahmad Fairuz Dato' Sheikh Abdul Halim said, reaching the 35th anniversary of UUM this year, the award winners should continue to work hard to further add lustre to UUM's name at the national and international level.  Currently, UUM is in the Malaysian Focus University Network (MFUN) group.

According to him, this is in line with the University's aspiration of becoming the Eminent Management University and KPM Aspiration 2018-2023 which is based on moral values, emphasizing on excellence and efficiency as well as ensuring efficient governance for UUM to continue to make changes and improvements.

"The recognition is also very meaningful not only to individual winners or departments but also as the pinnacle of success of an organization.

"The success acts as a reflection of the commitment of the university community in its efforts to provide the best service to the organization and society as a whole and it will definitely touch every UUM denizens," he said during the opening of HIMPU 2019 at Mu'adzam Shah Hall.

He further added that, as the Pro-Chancellor of UUM, he is extreme elated as he could see the achievements and successes attained by UUM, developing consistently year after year, especially in terms of ranking and ratings.

Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Ahmad Bashawir Abdul Ghani said HIMPU is organized in line with the government's efforts to make innovation as one of the country's main agenda to transform the public sector.

According to him, at HIMPU 2019, a total of 337 employees were selected to receive awards comprising 297 members of staff being awarded the Excellent Service Award; six (6) members of staff received the Excellent Employee Award; one (1) member of staff received the Academic Excellence Award and 34 recipients of the research, publishing, teaching and innovation and quality awards.

He said throughout the year 2018, the university also provided various recognition to staff including promotion as appreciation of their respective endeavour, thus proving that the university is always working to recognize the staff who have demonstrated the highest commitment to advance UUM.

"I hope this recognition will be a torch to inspire all UUM award recipients and staff to obtain higher recognition both inside and outside the country, while still internalizing the concept of humanizing education based on the core values supported by 'Knowledge, Virtue, Service’.

"I would also like to invite the whole of UUM campus community to jointly multiply their efforts and innovations towards realizing the vision of the university to become a well-respected Eminent Management University in and outside of the country ... and I believe we can implement it," he said.

At the same event, Tun Dato' Sri (Dr.) Ahmad Fairuz also launched the UUM Attendance Mobile App.