KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) has appointed internationally renowned scholar Prof. Dr. Hisham A. Hellyer as an Adjunct Professor, marking a significant step in strengthening the university’s global academic engagement and international collaborations.
It takes effect from 1 November 2025 to 31 October 2027, for a two-year term under the Raja Zarith Sofiah Centre for Advanced Studies on Islam, Science and Civilisation (RZS-CASIS), UTM Kuala Lumpur.
The appointment reflects UTM’s recognition of Prof. Dr. Hellyer’s extensive contributions to the fields of geopolitics, security studies, political economy, and international policy. With more than two decades of experience across government, academia, and strategic advisory roles in the West, Middle East, and Southeast Asia, Dr. Hellyer brings wide-ranging expertise that will enhance UTM’s global outreach and research capabilities.
Prof. Dr. Hellyer’s appointment coincides with his role as the Royal Discussant during the opening ceremony of the Festival of Ideas (FOI) Putrajaya 2025, held alongside the Royal Address delivered by Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia. His presence underscored the event’s intellectual significance and UTM’s commitment to nurturing world-class scholarly discourse.
During the ceremony, Prof. Dr. Hellyer delivered a powerful and timely reflection on adab as a moral compass in a rapidly changing world. He emphasized that adab—the discipline of giving everything its proper place—forms the foundation of justice, wisdom, and human stewardship. Highlighting global crises including Ukraine, Sudan and especially Gaza, he argued that the world is witnessing a profound failure of moral responsibility and international accountability. He also urged universities, scholars, and youth to embody adab through truth-telling, ethical research, institutional courage, and solidarity with the oppressed, stating that meaningful change requires principled action and moral bravery.
UTM Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Mohd Shafry Mohd Rahim expressed that the university is honoured to welcome Prof. Dr. Hellyer as part of its academic fraternity. He noted that the appointment not only acknowledges Dr. Hellyer’s global stature as a scholar and policy expert but also marks a new chapter in strengthening UTM’s international visibility and network of strategic partnerships.
During the ceremony, Prof. Dr. Mohd Shafry also formally presented the Adjunct Professor appointment letter to Prof. Dr. Hellyer, witnessed by Dato’ Seri Diraja Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir, the Minister of Higher Education and Prof. Ts. Dr. Intan Zaurah Mat Darus, UTM Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic & International), underscoring the significance of the appointment at the national and institutional levels.
He added that Prof. Dr. Hellyer’s long-standing engagement with institutions such as the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in London, the Center for American Progress (CAP) in Washington DC, and major universities worldwide positions him to play a key advisory role in advancing UTM’s global ambitions.
Prof. Dr. Hisham A. Hellyer expressed his deep appreciation for the honour and noted his longstanding connection with Malaysia and UTM.
“I am delighted to return to UTM in this new capacity. Malaysia has always been a place of intellectual richness, and UTM remains a vital hub for ideas, innovation, and ethical scholarship. I look forward to contributing to the university’s international collaborations and to supporting its mission in shaping globally conscious, principled leaders,” he said.
Prof. Dr. Hisham A. Hellyer is a leading scholar in geopolitics, security studies, and political economy, with more than 20 years of experience across government, academia, and strategic advisory roles in the West, Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Currently a Senior Associate Fellow at the RUSI in London and Senior Fellow in Geopolitics and Security at the CAP in Washington DC, he has also held roles at the Brookings Institution, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and the United Kingdom Government’s Taskforce on radicalisation. His analyses are frequently featured by CNN, BBC, The Washington Post, The Guardian, and other major global media.
He has served in academic capacities at Harvard University, Cambridge University, the University of Warwick, and the American University in Cairo. Author of seven books and over twenty scholarly works, Prof. Dr. Hellyer is also a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and an honouree of the Diversity in National Security Network. His multidisciplinary background in law, political economy, and the social sciences positions him as one of the most influential voices in contemporary global affairs.
As an Adjunct Professor, Prof. Dr. Hellyer will play a strategic role in elevating UTM’s global footprint by strengthening international linkages with leading institutions, supporting collaborative research in geopolitics, security, diplomacy, and global affairs, and mentoring students and academics through lectures, policy dialogues, and intellectual exchanges. His appointment will also help position UTM as a regional leader in high-level international scholarship, while fostering collaborations that expand the university’s academic networks, enhance global engagement, and cultivate graduates who are internationally competent and ethically grounded.
Source: UTM NewsHub
