OHIO, Malaysian officials make plans for next Tun Abdul Razak Chair professor

Ohio University officials are working with partners in Malaysia in moving forward on the next steps for the Tun Abdul Razak Chair position.

Named in honor of the second prime minister of Malaysia, the Tun Abdul Razak Chair at Ohio University was established in 1979 with funds provided by the Malaysian government, Ohio University and 38 private American and Malaysian corporations.

The chair program brings a Malaysian scholar to Ohio University for up to a two-year appointment. The primary role of each Tun Abdul Razak Chair is to teach and conduct research at Ohio University, to perform regional, national, and international outreach activities, and to assist in organizing the Razak Lecture, which is held in Malaysia.

“The Tun Abdul Razak Chair at Ohio University plays a vital role in fostering mutual understanding between Malaysia and the United States,” explained Interim Associate Provost of Global Affairs Gillian Ice.

“By supporting academic exchange and cultural dialogue, this program enriches the global perspectives of our students and faculty,” Ice said. “Such initiatives are essential in building bridges across cultures, which is a core mission of our global engagement efforts.” 

OHIO has hosted 15 Tun Abdul Razak Chairs since 1979. The most recent chair was Dr. Jayum Anak Jawan, who served at OHIO from 2015-2017.

Over the summer, OHIO and Malaysian officials met to discuss plans to bring the next chair to Ohio University. No details have been finalized yet, but Ice said that she is very happy with the progress and the collaboration with OHIO’s partners in Malaysia.

Ohio University’s collaborations in Malaysia date back more than 50 years and include partnership with government leaders, universities, private officials and alumni.

Along with the meetings to discuss the Tun Abdul Razak Chair position, Ice and other OHIO representatives met with several partners in Malaysia to discuss current and new areas of collaboration.

The meetings included signing a new memorandum of understanding with Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM). OHIO’s history with UiTM dates back to 1968, and the partnership has greatly benefited students and faculty from both institutions over the decades.

In addition to the meetings with partners, OHIO representatives met with a large group of proud alumni in Malaysia. Ohio University has more than 1,500 active alumni who live in Malaysia, and many today are leaders in government and the private sector.