ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE

Over the past decade, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Normah Maan has held a series of progressive and impactful leadership roles at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), spanning departmental, faculty, and university levels. Her administrative journey reflects a strong commitment to academic quality assurance, strategic planning, accreditation governance, and the continuous enhancement of educational excellence.

Currently serving as the Director of the UTM Accreditation Centre (UTM ACe) (2023–2026), she leads the university’s institution-wide accreditation ecosystem, overseeing internal quality assurance (IQA) frameworks, governance of academic audits, and the development of UTM’s auditor competency programmes. Her leadership plays a central role in sustaining UTM’s self-accreditation status and strengthening its alignment with national (MQA, MOHE) and international standards (AUN-QA, ASIIN, etc). Her portfolio encompasses policy development, accreditation readiness, evidence-based evaluation, and institutional capacity building.

Before this role, she served in key strategic positions at the UTM Quality and Risk Management Centre (UTM QRiM). As Deputy Director (Academic Quality Development) and later Acting Director, she guided university-wide quality enhancement initiatives, institutional audits, academic policy integration, and strategic risk management. Her work contributed significantly to aligning academic processes with UTM’s strategic plan and national regulatory expectations.

At the Faculty of Science, she held multiple roles, shaping the faculty’s academic quality landscape. As Assistant Dean (Quality and Strategy) across several terms (2018–2022) and Acting Assistant Dean, she led quality assurance systems, accreditation documentation, programme reviews, and strategic mapping of KPIs. These roles positioned her as a central figure in strengthening QA culture and governance within the faculty.

She also contributed to academic operations through several Acting Deputy Dean (Academic & Student Development) appointments, where she oversaw academic delivery, assessment processes, student development initiatives, and curriculum coordination. These assignments demonstrated her versatility and reliability in managing core academic functions.

Her leadership extends into research, as the long-serving Group Research Leader for Dynamical Systems Modelling(2016–2023). In this capacity, she coordinated interdisciplinary research directions, postgraduate supervision clusters, external collaborations, and the production of high-quality research outputs in mathematical modelling, dynamical systems, and applied sciences.

At the programme level, she previously served as Head Coordinator of Undergraduate Programmes (2016–2018) and Programme Coordinator (SSCE), where she managed curriculum design, programme performance monitoring, accreditation preparation, and operational governance within the Department of Mathematical Sciences.

Altogether, these roles demonstrate a robust and sustained record of academic leadership. Her administrative contributions reflect expertise in accreditation management, curriculum governance, educational quality assurance, stakeholder engagement, and strategic institutional development, positioning her as a key leader in strengthening UTM’s academic reputation and global competitiveness.

CONSULTATION & PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Normah Maan has been actively involved in professional consultation and knowledge transfer initiatives, contributing her expertise in mathematical sciences, modelling, and STEM education to various national and institutional programmes. Over the years, she has undertaken five consultation projects with a total value exceeding RM 478,000, involving collaborations with universities, national associations, and scientific communities.

Her notable consultation engagements include serving as a key contributor to the International Seminar on Mathematics in Industry & the International Conference on Theoretical and Applied Statistics (ISMI-ICTAS18) in 2018, a high-impact scientific event valued at RM 151,940.88, which supported advanced knowledge sharing between academia and industry. Earlier, she provided consultation for the Program Pengukuhan Matematik (2017), focusing on the strengthening of mathematics education and capacity building for targeted communities.

Her involvement in the national mathematical sciences community is further reflected in consultations for major national events such as the 3rd Mathematics in Industry Study Group Malaysia (MISG 2015) and the Seminar Kebangsaan Sains Matematik Ke-23 (SKSM23), collectively valued at more than RM 250,000. These engagements supported interdisciplinary problem-solving workshops, professional networking, and the advancement of applied mathematics research in Malaysia.

Additionally, she contributed to the FMMISG (2010) programme, valued at RM 70,000, which emphasized mathematical modelling for real-world industrial challenges, further highlighting her long-standing involvement in bridging mathematical theory with practical application across sectors.

Through these consultation activities, Dr. Normah has demonstrated sustained leadership in applied mathematics, scientific engagement, and capacity development. Her contributions extend beyond academic scholarship to national-level scientific empowerment, professional community development, and the advancement of STEM initiatives.

INTERNATIONAL, NATIONAL, UNIVERSITY, FACULTY & COMMUNITY COMMITTEES

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Normah Maan has an extensive and distinguished record of service across international, national, university, faculty, and community committees. Her involvement spans more than a decade and reflects deep expertise in academic quality assurance, accreditation, STEM education, institutional governance, and scholarly leadership. Across these levels, she has contributed as chairperson, auditor, assessor, editor, technical committee member, and strategic advisor.

International Committees

Dr. Normah plays a significant role in regional and international higher education quality assurance networks. She has served as an AUN-QA Auditor/Assessor for multiple programme assessments across Southeast Asia, including Mahidol University, Central Luzon State University, the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA), and the University of the Philippines. Her recurring appointments demonstrate trust in her expertise and her reputation in the ASEAN QA community. She is also a Life Member of the AUN-QA Assessors group, reflecting long-term recognition of her contributions.

Beyond QA, she served as Chair of the World Congress on Engineering (2013) and contributes to global academic discourse as an Editorial Board Member for the Pattimura International Journal of Mathematics (PIJMath).

National Committees

At the national level, Dr. Normah has been a strong advocate for the advancement of mathematical sciences and academic quality. She has contributed as a member of the Malaysia Mathematics in Industry Study Group (MMISG), the Majlis Pengurusan Kualiti (MPQ) Universiti Awam, and key committees for national seminars, conferences, and technical evaluations. Her roles include scientific committee membership, editorial responsibilities, and academic auditing for public university autonomy evaluations.

Her leadership in national symposia and quality-related programmes further highlights her impact in shaping Malaysia’s scientific and academic governance landscape.

University Committees (UTM)

Within UTM, Dr. Normah has contributed to more than 39 university-level committees, where she plays a major role in accreditation, academic development, governance, and strategic institutional initiatives. She has been entrusted with leadership roles such as:

• Chairperson for multiple UTM Naib Canselor Innovation and Quality Awards (2022–2025)
• Chairperson for university-level task forces related to self-accreditation compliance, ASIIN accreditation, and strategic reporting

• Head of Training Module for Programme Accreditation Panel Auditors

• Editor and Writer for university bulletins and accreditation portfolios

Her continuous involvement in committees such as the UTM Senate, Academic Governance Task Forces, Quality Audit Preparatory Committees, and ISO 9001:2015 compliance audits reflects her influential role in shaping policies, strengthening academic systems, and ensuring institutional compliance.

Faculty-Level Leadership (Faculty of Science)

At the Faculty of Science, Dr. Normah has held over 80 committee roles, ranging from quality assurance to curriculum development, research management, postgraduate affairs, talent development, student experience, and STEM community engagement.

She has served as:

• Chairperson of the Faculty Quality Assurance Committee
• Chairperson of curriculum review and COPPA documentation task forces
• Chairperson for Anugerah Kualiti Akademik (AKA) at various levels
• Panel evaluator, task force leader, and strategic planner for numerous faculty initiatives

Her leadership in the Dynamical Systems Modelling Research Group and various postgraduate and undergraduate programme committees showcases her long-standing contributions to academic excellence and research culture within the faculty.

Community Committees

Dr. Normah has also contributed to community-based STEM and educational initiatives. She has served as a Committee Member and Chairperson in programmes related to mathematics education, textbook development for secondary schools, and science competitions. Her involvement demonstrates a commitment to extending academic expertise beyond the university to benefit schools, educators, and the broader community.

Summary

Across more than 150 committee engagements at all levels, Dr. Normah’s leadership demonstrates:

• Strong expertise in quality assurance and accreditation
• Strategic leadership in institutional and faculty governance
• Active contributions to national and regional academic development
• Commitment to community STEM education and capacity building

Her service footprint reflects a career dedicated to strengthening academic systems, supporting evidence-based governance, and advancing excellence in higher education across Malaysia and the ASEAN region