On 19 May 2025, a prestigious recognition ceremony was held at the Senate Room of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), officiated by the Chairman of the University Board of Directors, Yang Berbahagia Professor Emeritus Dato’ Dr. Mohamad Abd. Razak. During the event, he inaugurated and presented the Gegar Gamat Agents of Change Researcher Recognition Award as well as certificates to officially acknowledge the establishment of various UKM Research Groups.
He was accompanied by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation Affairs, Professor Dato’ Dr. Wan Kamal Mujani, and the Director of the IDEA Centre, Professor Dr. Jamia Azdina Jamal. Organised by the IDEA Centre UKM, this ceremony served as a platform to recognise high-impact research projects that significantly contribute to the advancement of knowledge, institutional excellence, and societal well-being.
The recognitions were conferred based on a classification system ranging from Tier 1 to Tier 6, reflecting the varying degrees of research impact. This tiered framework is designed to encourage researchers to strive for higher levels of excellence and broader societal relevance in their research outputs, thereby aligning with the university’s mission to be a leader in scholarly innovation.
In his officiating speech, Professor Emeritus Dato’ Dr. Mohamad expressed his hopes that the establishment and formal recognition of UKM Research Groups would further strengthen the university’s research ecosystem. He emphasised the importance of translational research and social innovation as critical components in ensuring that academic research yields tangible benefits for the community and the nation at large.
During the ceremony, a total of eight research groups received the Gegar Gamat Agents of Change Researcher recognition certificates, while an additional 24 groups were awarded official certificates for the establishment of UKM Research Groups. This initiative is viewed as a strategic effort to foster a more dynamic and sustainable research network in support of the national research and innovation agenda.
