This conviction lies at the heart of everything Professor Dr. Mohd Shukri Ab Yajid does. As the Founder and President of Management and Science University Malaysia (MSU) & MSI Sri Lanka, he has spent decades building an institution not just known for academic excellence — but for its unwavering commitment to uplifting lives through accessible, industry-relevant, and globally engaged education.
With over 40 years of experience in transforming higher education — and a legacy that includes MSU’s impactful presence in Sri Lanka for the past two decades — his leadership continues to challenge conventional models and set new benchmarks for quality, inclusivity, and innovation in education.
When asked what drives his enduring vision, Dr. Shukri’s response is grounded in clarity and collective purpose. “It’s about making sure the vision is understood — not just by leadership, but by every stakeholder,” he explained. “We can only move forward when everyone is aligned.”
At the core of MSU’s transformation is a commitment to becoming a truly global university — one that attracts, nurtures, and produces graduates with international outlooks. “This aligns with our institutional pillars,” Dr. Shukri shared. “We want our students and faculty to adopt a global mindset. In today’s world — which is increasingly inward-looking — cultivating a global perspective is not just relevant, it’s essential.”
By embedding this mindset across all functions, MSU is attracting world-class talent and promoting a vibrant, inclusive academic culture that prepares students not just for jobs, but for meaningful, cross-border contributions.
With technology, AI, and evolving learner demographics reshaping the education sector, how does MSU stay relevant? For Dr. Shukri, the answer lies in agility. “We must prepare the university — and its people — to embrace change,” he said. This includes developing agile leadership, dynamic curriculum models, and industry-responsive strategies.
“Students today are not like students from 10 years ago,” he continued. “So we must continuously engage with stakeholders, revise our curriculum, and develop new pathways that meet the demands of a shifting marketplace.”
Key to this adaptability is MSU’s University Industry Advisory Panel (UIAP), which provides real-time insights from over 2,000 partner companies. These insights feed directly into program design, ensuring that graduates are equipped with in-demand skills — and the resilience to adapt.
Sustainability is not an add-on at MSU — it’s a core value embedded across the university’s ecosystem. From faculty-led initiatives to student-led organisations and career development programs, sustainability is a unifying theme. “We approach sustainability holistically,” Dr. Shukri explained. “It’s not just about environmental efforts — it’s about sustainable values that guide how we teach, learn, and lead.”
Academic programs are designed to reflect this ethos, integrating sustainability into business, health sciences, and community-focused fields. This positions students to drive change not only within their industries, but within society at large.
Industry collaboration plays a foundational role in MSU’s identity as an “industry-embedded university.” Through strong partnerships with businesses, students benefit from hands-on experience via internships, real-world research, and even commercialisation opportunities.
“This isn’t just about internships,” said Dr. Shukri. “We’re developing the entire industry ecosystem — from teaching and advisory panels to community projects and commercial research.”
By integrating students into real-world problem solving, MSU helps them evolve from passive learners to active contributors — and eventually, job creators. “If a student’s research is adopted by industry and commercialised, they’re no longer a job seeker,” he said. “They’re an entrepreneur.”
At MSU, leadership development is embedded not just in the curriculum, but in the entire university culture. “We don’t just want students who are academically excellent,” Dr. Shukri emphasised. “We want well-rounded graduates with strong communication, creativity, empathy, and leadership skills.”
This philosophy is deeply aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which the university uses as a framework for building socially responsible leaders. “You can have a perfect academic record, but that alone won’t make you a great CEO or manager,” he explained. “It’s soft skills that make the difference.” These values are nurtured through student leadership programs, club associations, and a wide range of co-curricular opportunities — helping shape confident, thoughtful leaders for tomorrow’s world.
Looking back at MSU’s 40-year journey — and particularly its 20-year presence in Sri Lanka — Dr. Shukri pointed to one constant challenge: talent. “Talent is the most difficult resource to acquire,” he reflected. “You may have someone with strong academic credentials, but they may not have the right mindset, drive, or creativity.”
MSU’s strategy for overcoming this lies in cultivating talent from within. Many postgraduate students who studied at MSU Sri Lanka have returned home to lead academic institutions or manage major enterprises — a testament to the university’s commitment to real-world impact. This long-term investment in people reflects a deep understanding: institutions don’t change the world — people do.
With over 350 global partners, MSU’s international network is both wide and deep. But for Dr. Shukri, partnerships are not about numbers — they’re about shared purpose. “We work with institutions and industries that share our values — particularly our commitment to community impact,” he said. “It’s this shared mission that makes our collaborations flourish.”
Whether it’s advancing postgraduate education, developing industry-relevant skillsets in hospitality and health sciences, or creating leadership pipelines for companies and communities, MSU’s partnerships are grounded in impact.
At the heart of everything Dr. Shukri does is a belief in education as the ultimate enabler. “If we want to transform society, the best thing we can invest in is education,” he said. “It’s the most powerful tool for social mobility, economic growth, and community wellbeing.”
In Sri Lanka, MSU’s focus remains clear: to expand postgraduate offerings and cultivate leaders who will influence academia, industry, and public life. Through this, the university is contributing not just to individual success stories, but to the broader national development agenda.
Dr. Shukri’s leadership has made MSU a beacon of what’s possible in higher education. With a strategic focus on global readiness, sustainability, talent development, and real-world impact, MSU is redefining what it means to be a university in the 21st century. In a world of rapid change, he remains grounded in timeless principles: vision, values, and people. And it is these that will continue to carry MSU — and its graduates — to greater heights.