Aini Ideris has been appointed as the new vice-chancellor of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) for a two-year period effective Jan 1.

The Higher Education Ministry (KPT) in a statement in Kuala Lumpur today said the former UPM corporate strategy and communications director was replacing Mohd Fauzi Ramlan who had ended his term on Dec 31.

Kelantan-born Aini who graduated with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree (1979) from UPM (formerly known as Universiti Pertanian Malaysia then) holds a MVSc in Avian Medicine from the University of Liverpool, England, and a PhD in Avian Medicine (1989) from UPM.

She continued with post-doctoral training at the University of California, Davis and at Cornell University, USA under an Asian Development Bank Fellowship.

She was formerly elected a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, Founding Fellow of Malaysian College of Veterinary Specialists (FMCVS) and Fellow of the Malaysian Scientific Association (FMSA).

Aini is also former deputy vice-chancellor (academic and international), chairperson of Veterinary Teaching Hospital, deputy dean, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, dean, School of Graduate Studies, Malaysian Post-graduate Deans Council chairperson including chairperson of UPM Holdings board of directors.

In addition, her expertise in the veterinary field had gained her recognition to represent various committees at the KPT, Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry and Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Ministry.

- Bernama