ITKAS public intellectual knowledge centre

PEKAN, 12 March 2021 - The establishment of the Institute of Civilisation and Strategic Studies (ITKAS), Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) is one of the shifts in the formation of the university ecosystem that can optimise the existence of UMP in Pahang.
It is also able to benefit the community in various aspects and areas of expertise.
According to the Chairman of the UMP Board of Directors, Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Dr. Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman, ITKAS needs to be empowered as a centre gathering public intellectual knowledge in the field of humanities and liberal arts in line with the sudden demands on the latest technology.
“This includes artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, blockchain, big data and cloud data analytics and ITKAS needs to periodically publish and discourse on public domain platforms,” he said in a meeting with ITKAS cluster leaders recently at UMP Pekan.
He hopes that ITKAS would become a credible think tank for the Pahang State Government and other global stakeholders.
Tan Sri Abdul Aziz is also optimistic that ITKAS can be recognised in a short period given the experience and expertise available at this university.
It is also in line with the aspiration of the UMP Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ir. Dr. Wan Azhar Wan Yusoff who targeted a discourse programme closely related to Pahang in the initial phase ITKAS establishment.
Among them, scholarly talks and activities to establish a strategic collaboration that can introduce and highlight the objectives of ITKAS at the national and international levels.
According to ITKAS Director, Datuk Associate Professor Dr. Wan Ahmad Fauzi Wan Husain, ITKAS also plays a role in educating the community to understand constitutional law and public thinking in building the nation of Malaysia.
“We are scheduling the 2021 calendar so that all activities can be implemented well and receive appropriate coverage considering the study completion period until it is fully passed.
“Four clusters are established under ITKAS, namely the Civilisation Cluster which will be led by the Senior Dean, College of Management and Humanities, Associate Professor Dr. Hasan Ahmad and the Management Cluster will be led by Professor Dr. Roszaini Mohamad Haniffa from the Faculty of Industrial Management.
“The Technology Cluster will be led by the Senior Dean, College of Computing and Applied Sciences, Professor Ts. Dr. Ruzaini Abdullah Arshah.
“Meanwhile the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic & International), Professor Ts. Dr. Mohd Rosli Hainin will lead the Infrastructure and Environment Cluster,” he said.
The University Board of Directors (LPU) Meeting No. 4/2020 on 21 November 2020 agreed to approve the change of name of the Pahang Institute of Strategic Studies (INSKEP) to the Institute of Civilisation and Strategic Studies or ITKAS.
By: Mohd Zaki Ahmad, Institute of Civilisation and Strategic Studies (ITKAS) and Editing By Corporate Communications Unit, Office of The Vice-Chancellor (PNC)
Translation by: Dr. Rozaimi Abu Samah, Engineering College/Faculty of  Chemical and Process Engineering Technology