BRINGING education forward demands leadership.
For Hemalatha Murugiah and Dr Jane Lim See Yin, their contributions to higher education and student development recently earned them international recognition at the World Women Economic and Business Summit 2026 organised by the KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific.
Hemalatha, chief executive at INTI International College Penang, received the World Women CEO Icon Leadership Award, while Lim, chief executive at INTI International College Subang and vice president of academic support and partnership at INTI International University & Colleges, was honoured with the World Outstanding Women in Education Excellence Award.
Hemalatha, whose work has focused on institutions, partnerships and opportunities, said leadership has always been about creating meaningful impact.
“Every initiative should contribute to long-term growth, whether through developing people, strengthening organisations or creating opportunities for future generations. When we focus on creating value, recognition becomes a by-product rather than the destination,” she said in a July 13 press release.
Under her leadership, the Penang college has strengthened collaborations with industry partners and expanded entrepreneurship through its startup incubator, helping students turn innovative ideas into commercially viable ventures.
The college has also worked with organisations to encourage more women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as entrepreneurship and leadership.
According to the press release, more than half of INTI Penang’s campus leadership team comprises women, reflecting Hemalatha’s belief that leadership opportunities should be shaped by capability rather than convention.
Hemalatha said women bring unique strengths to leadership, particularly empathy, resilience and emotional intelligence.
“But more importantly, we bring different perspectives that strengthen organisations and improve decision-making. The goal is not simply to have more women in leadership, but to ensure talented women are given equal opportunities to contribute,” she said.
Impacting individuals
Lim, who has spent nearly three decades in education, has centred her work on students, particularly in helping them develop confidence, resilience and the ability to recognise their own potential.
She believes success should not be measured only by qualifications, academic results or career outcomes.
Education, she said, should also help students understand their strengths and develop the confidence to move forward.
Recalling a student from her early teaching years, she said he rarely participated in class, appeared withdrawn and showed little confidence in himself.
Through private conversations, she discovered that he was carrying the weight of family expectations while struggling with self-confidence. With encouragement and support, he went on to graduate, build a career and become a senior IT management professional at one of Malaysia’s leading financial institutions.
More than 20 years later, they still keep in touch.
“He once told me that what changed his life was not a lesson from a textbook, but the fact that someone believed in him when he had stopped believing in himself.
“For me, that is the true purpose of education. It is about helping people discover possibilities they cannot yet see within themselves,” Lim said.
Looking ahead
As artificial intelligence, digital transformation and high-value industries continue to reshape the workplace, Hemalatha believes higher education institutions must remain closely connected to the industries their graduates will enter.
Universities, she said, cannot prepare students for the future by working in isolation.
Lim stressed that as industries and technologies continue to evolve, education should not be limited to preparing students for examinations.
“Our responsibility is to develop individuals who can think critically, communicate effectively and contribute meaningfully to society,” she said.
She believes qualities such as confidence, curiosity, communication, resilience and adaptability remain important as graduates prepare for a changing workplace.
“My greatest achievement will never be an award.
“It will always be seeing former students become confident professionals, responsible leaders and good human beings. That is the impact every educator hopes to leave behind,” Lim said.
