MPMUM 09/10

THERE are plans to turn Universiti Malaya’s Seventh Residential College into a model disabled-friendly college.

Also known as the Za’ba Residential College, it is home to 804 undergraduates including 30 with special needs. It is also the only college on the campus which provides disabled-friendly facilities.

Newly-appointed UM deputy vice-chancellor (Students Affairs and Alumni) Prof Dr Rohana Yusof said she would work together with the college principal and other officials.

“A lot of work needs to be done to ensure it becomes a model college for others to emulate.

“This is one of my long-term plans,” she said in an interview at her office.

Prof Rohana has been appointed to a three-year term until August 2013, taking over from Assoc Prof Datuk Dr Azarae Idris.

Since she took office on Aug 8, she has been visiting the university’s residential colleges — 12 on campus and one off campus to meet the students.

The residential colleges are part of her Student Affairs portfolio.

“I think UM is lucky as most top students often select us as their first choice.

“All of us can work together to ensure that when our students graduate, they are able to work anywhere in the world,” she said.

Prof Rohana, who has been with the university for 24 years, said she has always been passionate about student activities and previously served as the principal and fellow of a residential college.

She has also been a member of university advisory boards for student activities.

Her other plans include looking into the Student Affairs Department at the university.

“I want to know what we have presently and how we can further improve on our services for students.

“We want students to know that they can approach us for assistance at any time, be it for academic or personal problems,” she shared, adding that her door was always open.

Prof Rohana, who is a molecular biologist, obtained her Bachelor of Science and PhD in Biochemistry from Lancaster and Leeds Universities in the United Kingdom respectively, while her Master of Science is from UM.

She has won numerous awards, including a fellowship with the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science, which enabled her to be attached to Kinki University in Japan.

She also obtained a fellowship from the Asean Molecular Biology in 1997 to work at the National Institute of Genetics in Mishima, Japan while in 1998 she received the Fulbright Scholar Award and spent eight months at the Kansas University Medical Centre in the United States.

Before being appointed to her current post, she was deputy director at the Centre of Leadership Research and Innovation in the Higher Education Leadership Academy (Akept) from 2008 to 2010.

“My time with Akept was a very good experience as it enabled me to understand what the Higher Education Ministry does,” she said.

Prof Rohana will continue with her research and publications in the search for an antiviral for dengue.

“I will definitely continue supervising postgraduate students, although I might not have time for undergraduate lectures,” she added.

Prof Rohana, who is married with a son, said she relaxes by tending to her fish and garden at home.