Case Study 5: Dare to Lead: A Woman Rector Painting the Future - Prof. Dato' Sri Dr. Zaleha Kamaruddin

Abstract

How is she supposed to do this? This is a university. A great university. The only Islamic university in Malaysia to add, and the fact that she is a woman. This is really bothering Prof. Dato' Sri Dr. Zaleha. How should she deal with the general view of the position she holds? What the community would think? How would the stakeholders of the university respond to this appointment? All these questions were lingering in the back of her head, waiting for the answers which she herself was not sure of them. The biggest question that she had no answer to was whether or not she was capable of carrying out the heavy duties as well as responsibilities entrusted to her. As a woman, she felt that her appointment was a big challenge in her life, which she had to face in order to create more meaningful success in the course of her career as a leading academic. With a long sigh, she abided by this stipulation, and she was all ready to contribute her devotion and sweat to the university, the international Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM).