Emeritus Professor Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Abu Hassan bin Othman 

First Vice Chancellor of UMS (September 1994 - April 2005) 

Emeritus Professor Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Abu Hassan bin Othman is a distinguished academician and administrator. He was born on 18th March 1940 at Rembau, Negeri Sembilan. Tan Sri holds a Ph.D. (Sociology) from Michigan State University, U.S.A., D. Agr. Sc. (Honorary), Kinki University (currently known as Kindai University), Japan and D. Mgmt (Honorary) from Open University Malaysia (OUM) in 2006. Prior to his doctoral studies, he completed Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in 1969 and Master in Malay Studies (Social Anthropology) in 1972 at Universiti Malaya. 

Tan Sri’s academic career started as a tutor at Faculty of Arts, Universiti Malaya (1969-April 1971), then appointed as a lecturer at Jabatan Sosiologi & Antropologi, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (1974-1977). While he was pursuing Ph.D at Michigan State University, he was appointed as Graduate Teaching Assistant (1976). A year after completing his Ph.D, he was appointed as Associate Professor at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (1978-July 1984). He was an Associate Professor at 43, from February 1983 to August 1994 at UKM.  

Tan Sri was appointed as Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) first Vice Chancellor in 1994 and led the university until April 2005. One of many but most important tasks undertaken by him in the early stages of establishing UMS was to develop the Main Development Plan (Pelan Induk Pembangunan) which consisted of two categories: academic and physical. 

Tan Sri’s scholarship was recognized through the publication of five books, more than 30 articles published in esteemed journals, and he has presented over 70 paper works in variou conferences, nationally and internationally. His research interest and focus are on the field of social change and community development, industry sociology and organizational behaviour. He has successfully completed a total of 20 research projects in these areas.  

Tan Sri's dedication to his academic career and contributions to the community have qualified him to receive various awards as stated below:  

• Pingat Johan Setia Mahkota (JSM) by DYMM Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Azlan Shah (1990) 

• Pingat Gangsa Bersaduran Perak (GBP) by DYMM Yang Di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan (1992) 

• Pingat Darjah Setia Negeri Sembilan (1992) 

• Pingat Darjah Setia Negeri Sembilan (BNS, 1991) 

• Darjah Kebesaran Dato’ Setia Negeri Sembilan (DSNS, 1993) 

• Darjah Kebesaran Negeri Sabah Kelas Pertama Seri Panglima Darjah Kinabalu (SPDK) by Tuan Yang Terutama Yang Di-Pertua Negeri Sabah (1998) 

• Pingat Panglima Setia Mahkota (PSM) by Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Di-Pertuan Agong (2002) 

The conferment of Emeritus Professor to him in August 2008 was an appreciation for his contributions and dedicated services to UMS. 

 

Reference 

1. Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Abu Hassan Othman: membangun pencapaian gemilang Universiti Malaysia Sabah dan memacu insan cemerlang/ Rosazman Hussin [et al], No. Panggilan CT105. T35 2008 https://webvirtua.ums.edu.my/lib/itemid=chamo:161751&fromLocationLink=false&theme=Green 
2. Amanat Naib Canselor Tahun 2002 https://arkib.ums.edu.my/14408/ 
3. Amanat Naib Canselor Tahun 2003 https://arkib.ums.edu.my/14409/ 
4. Vice Chancellor Website, UMS https://www.ums.edu.my/vc/en/previous-vice-chancellors 
5. Speech Collection, UMS Archive https://arkib.ums.edu.my/view/record_type/SPEECH=2FMANDATE.html 
6. Newspaper Collection, UMS Archive https://arkib.ums.edu.my/cgi/search/archive/simpledataset=archive&screen= Search &q=abu+hassan+othman&_action_search=Search 
7. Photo Collection from UMS Corporate Communication Center UMS