Dr Halimaton to helm Prestariang’s boutique ICT university

• New university of computing to focus on specific ICT fields
• Dr Halimaton has won multiple international awards and recognitions

PRESTARIANG Education Sdn Bhd (“PESB”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Bursa Malaysia-listed Prestariang Berhad, has appointed Professor Datuk Dr Halimaton Hamdan (pic) as the Vice Chancellor of its boutique university to be set up in Cyberjaya.
 
PESB had earlier this year obtained the letter of invitation from the Ministry of Higher Education to set up the first boutique university for computing in Malaysia, which it claimed would make it the first in the country to offer higher education in specific ICT fields.
 
The Prestariang Group’s move into higher education comes from the growing need to produce talents to support the global demand for highly skilled ICT expertise, Prestariang said in a statement.
 
“In wanting to … [elevate] the degree of ICT education in the country, Prestariang’s education arm will focus on offering specialized and quality ICT education,” said Dr Abu Hasan Ismail, its chief executive officer.
 
“I am delighted that Professor Datuk Dr Halimaton has agreed to serve as the Vice Chancellor of our first boutique university for computing. I am humbled by her experience and achievements as a scientist, researcher and educator.
 
“Her outstanding 30 years of contributions in the world of education, science and technology will greatly benefit Prestariang’s education arm that aims to revolutionalize the ICT education industry in Malaysia,” he added.
 
Dr Halimaton, a scientist, researcher and educator, is winner of multiple international awards and recognitions including the World Invention Award Glass Oberlisk in the British Invention Show in 2007, the ‘Maerogel’ product of the year by Clean Energy Circle UK 2008 and the esteemed Merdeka Award in the Health, Science and Technology Sector in 2009.
 
She holds numerous distinguished professional positions including Professor of Chemistry at Universiti Teknology Malaysia and is Under Secretary for the National Nanotechnology Directorate, Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation (MOSTI).
 
On leading the first setup of a boutique university of computing, Dr Halimaton noted that it is the perfect time to spearhead the teaching ICT to involve a more industry-based curriculum merging science and technology.
 
“One of my aims is to ensure that the university will provide the enabling environment and comprehensive learning opportunities to as many talented Malaysians as possible, encouraging innovators to meet the market’s demand of highly skilled graduates, and integrating computer science into other fields of emerging science and technology,” she said.
 
A chemistry graduate from Indiana University in the United States in 1979, Dr Halimaton completed her Masters of Science at Marshall University, in 1981 and subsequently earned her PhD in 1989 from University of Cambridge, UK.
 
 
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