UMPSA celebrates 25 World Top 2% Researchers through Wall of Fame initiative

PEKAN, 22 January 2026 – The Library of Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) continues to move forward in its efforts to celebrate the university’s research excellence by establishing a special recognition space known as the ‘Wall of Fame: UMPSA Top 2% Scientists by Stanford and Elsevier’.

This initiative recognises and celebrates the achievements of 25 UMPSA researchers who have been listed among the world’s top 2% researchers, based on the Updated Science-Wide Author Databases of Standardized Citation Indicators report published by Stanford University in collaboration with Elsevier.

Of the total, 15 UMPSA researchers were listed under the Career-Long Achievement category, while 25 researchers were listed under the Single-Year Achievement category, which evaluates research performance based on impact and citations for the most recent year.

According to the Chief Librarian of UMPSA, Hajah Kamariah Gono, the Top 2% Scientists corner was established in conjunction with the establishment of the UMPSA Wall of Fame as a symbol of appreciation and the highest recognition for the outstanding achievements of the university’s academic community.

“This initiative not only reflects institutional pride, but is also hoped to serve as a source of inspiration for students and young researchers to continue strengthening a culture of high-impact research and global-level innovation in line with UMPSA’s aspirations.

“The establishment of this Wall of Fame space not only functions as a visual symbol of appreciation, but also as a strategic medium to recognise the contributions and outstanding achievements of UMPSA researchers,” she said.

The Wall of Fame space is strategically located on Level 1 of the UMPSA Library, Pekan Campus, next to the 24-Hour Room, making it easily accessible to the campus community and visitors.

The visual display features portraits of the listed researchers, accompanied by brief information such as h-index, total publications, and year of recognition, as well as digital access through a QR code that enables visitors to obtain further information regarding the researchers’ profiles in the Scopus database.
 
According to the Professor of the Faculty of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering Technology (FTKMA), Professor Ts. Ir. Dr. Kumaran Kadirgama, the establishment of this corner can serve as a source of inspiration for students and young researchers to continue striving to produce quality and high-impact research at the global level.

“This initiative strengthens the role of the library as a centre of knowledge and an intellectual hub that showcases the university’s research achievements and identity,” he said.

Meanwhile, Associate Professor Sudhakar Kumarasamy, also from FTKMA, described the Wall of Fame space as a highly meaningful and high-impact initiative for the university community.

“This effort not only reflects the university’s appreciation for research excellence, but is also capable of becoming a source of inspiration and motivation for every visitor who steps into the library,” he explained.

It is hoped that this initiative will serve as a symbol of recognition for the continuous efforts of UMPSA researchers in elevating the university’s academic reputation at the international level, while also becoming a catalyst of inspiration for the UMPSA community to remain competitive on the global stage.

By: Rohaida Mohamad Idaris and Amelia Hasan, UMPSA Library