In conjunction with the new year 2026, the Faculty of Medicine held the Bicara Dekan Fakulti Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia on the 23rd January at the HCTM Auditorium. The Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Professor Datin Dr. Marina Mat Baki, expressed her sincere appreciation and gratitude to all faculty members including academic, administrative, and support staff  for their unwavering commitment and dedication in fulfilling their responsibilities.

The Bicara Dekan 2026 commenced with a review of the faculty’s achievements and excellence throughout 2025. Regarding the university’s strategic KPIs, the Faculty of Medicine demonstrated commendable performance, achieving 17 out of 22 targeted indicators. Although there were some “red flags” in areas such as the numbers principal investigators among the lecturers and international grants, the faculty has developed an aggressive intervention plan for 2026 to ensure all indicators return to the desired performance level.

Financial strength remains a cornerstone of sustainable academic activities. In 2025, the faculty generated RM39.4 million, exceeding the initial target of RM34 million by 16%. These funds were reinvested for the benefit of the faculty members, including emoluments for contract staff such as part-time lecturers and clinical supervisors, reimbursement of publication fees, book funding, internal research grants, training and conference sponsorships, infrastructure improvements, and staff and student welfare. These allocations also covered expenditures not funded by the university’s operational budget. Additionally, RM500,000.00 from UKMSHAPE revenue was distributed to departments during the assembly.

Succession planning and leadership in human capital development remained a key agenda, with the appointment of 14 new lecturers and the promotion of 22 existing lecturers in 2025. Mentorship programmes and workshops for early-career academics have become an integral part of the faculty culture, ensuring that emerging academics are well guided in balancing clinical responsibilities and research excellence.

At both local and global levels, the Faculty of Medicine strengthened its networks and collaborations. The faculty received a RM5 million endowment from the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation to establish the Jeffrey Cheah Chair of Excellence. Strategic collaborations were also formed with renowned institutions such as the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, and the University of Nottingham. In addition, several memorandum of understanding and agreements were signed with industry partners and institutions both locally and internationally, including Zhejiang University (China), Universitas Andalas (Indonesia), Shandong First Medical University (China), Pharmaniaga, Solace Asia, and KPJ Healthcare University.

In addition to highlighting the faculty’s achievements in 2025, the Dean outlined key initiatives and strategies for 2026. These include efforts to enhance the achievement of strategic KPIs, empower academic staff, strengthen engagement between management and staff, promote sustainability, improve infrastructure and facilities, reinforce strategic partnerships, and increase the faculty’s visibility.

To improve KPI performance, several initiatives have been planned, including regular writing workshops, departmental manuscript clinic roadshows, the introduction of competitive and special faculty-level grants, and mentorship workshops to enhance success in securing international research funding. For academic staff development, promotion workshops will support career advancement, alongside interactive engagement sessions with faculty management to encourage idea-sharing and innovation.

Sustainability efforts will continue with the installation of Smart Recycle Vending Machines in the Preclinical Building to promote recycling, the installation of solar panels for energy efficiency, and the implementation of policies to reduce single-use plastics. Infrastructure development will also be prioritised, including the establishment of a Centralised Laboratory with an allocation of RM40 million under the 13th Malaysia Plan, and an Advanced Simulation Laboratory funded by a RM1.1 million contribution from the Al-Bukhary Foundation.

Strategic engagement with the community will be further strengthened through initiatives such as the adopted school programme at SMK Seri Mulia and the adopted community programme in Bandar Tun Razak. These efforts aim to ensure that medical knowledge extends beyond academia and reaches the wider community, including through innovative projects such as the Kelulut Honey initiative.

The faculty also seeks to enhance its visibility across various platforms by improving its official website and social media presence.

In concluding her address, the Dean called on all faculty members to continue serving with integrity and accountability, and to work together towards achieving greater excellence in the Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, in 2026.