KUCHING – Dr Jee Teck Weng, Senior Lecturer from the Faculty of Business, Design and Arts at Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, has successfully graduated from the prestigious Professional Certificate in Contemporary Leadership (PCCL) program at the Markfield Institute of Higher Education (MIHE) in Leicestershire, United Kingdom, underscoring the university’s commitment to strengthening faculty excellence and leadership development aligned with global standards.
Dr Jee was among 29 senior executives, corporate and community leaders, civil servants, and academics from Malaysia and the region who completed the intensive three-month leadership development program.
The program culminated in a week-long residential session in the United Kingdom from 24 to 30 November 2025, featuring advanced leadership engagement, reflective practice, and global exposure. Participants also attended special academic visits to the University of Oxford, including the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies (OCIS) and Linacre College, gaining world-class insights into ethical and contemporary leadership.
The PCCL program is a flagship initiative by the Malaysian Research and Education Foundation (MyREF) in partnership with MIHE, delivered in collaboration with the Institute of Management Sarawak (MASA). The program is designed to foster ethical, contemporary, and transformational leadership, integrating universal moral values with modern leadership competencies.
Reflecting on the program’s impact, Dr Jee emphasised how it had fundamentally reshaped his approach to education and leadership. He said the PCCL program had shaped him into a more inclusive leader and empowered him to create meaningful bridges between Malaysia and the United Kingdom.
“The program reminded me that leadership is not about authority, but about service – uplifting others, creating space for every voice, and ensuring that people feel valued and empowered. It has deepened my belief that meaningful leadership begins with humility, empathy, and the courage to include diverse perspectives in decision-making,” he said.
Dr Jee Teck Weng (front row, right) receives his Certificate of Completion at the graduation ceremony on 29 November 2025.
He shared that the PCCL program had sharpened his ability to listen deeply, understand context before reacting, and guide others using strong global moral values.
“These competencies shape how I engage with students, colleagues, and research partners. I now approach teaching with a stronger emphasis on reflective dialogue, ethical reasoning, and helping students find clarity in complex situations.
“By integrating inclusive leadership principles and global ethics into my teaching and supervision, I can better prepare students for international environments, cross-cultural teamwork, and leadership roles within a rapidly changing world – helping them grow as confident, globally minded leaders,” he said.
The program also opened promising avenues for collaboration through ongoing initiatives led by MyREF, MASA, and the upcoming Institute of Contemporary Leadership. Dr Jee said these included youth leadership development, youth entrepreneurship programs, industry-university joint training modules, and cross-institutional and cross-country leadership exchanges.
“Such partnerships can create new opportunities for Swinburne students and staff to engage with national and international leadership communities, businesses, and universities across Southeast Asia and the United Kingdom in particular,” he said.
The program’s second cohort brought together diverse participants from a broad range of institutions and industries, including government ministries, Sarawak state departments, universities such as Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), Swinburne Sarawak, i-CATS University College, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), and INCEIF University, as well as corporate, engineering, takaful, consulting, and humanitarian sectors. International participants also came from the Philippines, which further strengthened the program’s global dimension.
Participants of the PCCL program pose for a group photo with Dr Asma Mustafa (back row, centre), Dean of Scholars and Research Fellow at OCIS as well as Leadership Program Coordinator at OCIS and Linacre College, during their academic visit to OCIS as part of their international leadership exposure.
“Leadership is about unlocking people’s potential to become better, leading with purpose and wisdom,” said Mr Mohammad Fadzli Bin Ngatmi, Director of Management, Protection Division, Prime Minister’s Department, Malaysia.
“The PCCL program is about building future-ready leaders through foresight, integrity, and inclusivity for a better world for all,” said UNIMAS Professor Dr Thomas Kamarudin Kana, who is also Chairman of the Rural and Community Da’wah Committee at Harakah Islamiah (HIKMAH) Sarawak.
International participant Ms Norhanie Lao Mama, Chief Executive Officer of Tudungpeople Philippines, also commended the program. “I lead with purpose while remaining teachable and continuously learning, as every experience shapes who I am as a leader,” she said.
The graduating cohort reaffirmed their commitment to advancing ethical, globally minded, and socially responsible leadership through further training and involvement in alumni initiatives. The program’s organisers expressed confidence that PCCL graduates will play a valuable role in shaping organisational excellence, national development, and cross-border collaboration.
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