Two University of Nottingham Malaysia (UNM) recipients—a faculty member and a team—have been recognised with the Lord Dearing Award, the University of Nottingham's highest honour for excellence in Education and the Student Experience.
The two recipients from UNM are Ahamed Miflah Hussain Ismail, Assistant Professor at the School of Psychology, who received an Individual Award in the Student Belonging category, and the Careers Advisory Service (CAS) Team, led by Head of Careers Advisory Service Alicia Ch'ng, who received a Team Award in the Authentic and Experiential Learning category.
Dr. Ahamed Miflah: Cultivating Belonging Through Innovative Tutoring
Dr. Ahamed is recognised for his outstanding contribution to enhancing the student experience and fostering student belonging through his leadership of the Here for You Guides (HFYG), a holistic tutoring model that has redefined personal, academic, and professional support at UNM.
He initially led the pilot of the programme for approximately 200 undergraduate Psychology students, creating a more empowering student experience that improved students' confidence in seeking support, sense of belonging, personal and academic development, and graduate readiness. Its success led to the adoption of the programme within Nottingham's Foundation Programme, extending its reach to more than 700 additional students, while its principles and guidance have since informed tutoring practice across the wider university.
The programme has also strengthened staff capability by clarifying tutoring roles and reducing role ambiguity. Furthermore, it has developed the mentoring, teaching, and student support expertise of academic staff, postgraduate researchers, and peer guides.
The CAS Team: Elevating Career Education Across UNM
As for the CAS Team, they were recognised for its outstanding collaborative approach to embedding authentic and experiential career education across UNM. Through strategic partnerships with academic schools, employers, industry, and students, the team has transformed career development from standalone activities into an integrated, institution-wide learning experience that equips students with the skills, confidence, and resilience needed for successful transitions into employment.
A notable highlight is the team's collaboration with educational technology company Practera to deliver the Virtual Industry Experience Project, which provided students with employer-engaged projects that address real-world challenges in areas such as artificial intelligence and digital marketing. The initiative has expanded access to high-quality work-integrated learning, particularly for international students who may face barriers to traditional internships, achieving an 87% completion rate and almost doubling international student participation.
Together with flagship initiatives including the Resume Competition, LinkedIn Competition, and Get Ready Get Hired Certificate Programme, these programmes have engaged thousands of students, strengthened employer partnerships, and contributed to graduate employability that consistently exceeds 90%.
Established in 1999 with the personal support of Lord Ronald Dearing, the fifth Chancellor of the University of Nottingham, the award honours individuals and teams whose work have made a difference to student learning, development, and sense of belonging. This year, the scheme received hundreds of nominations from across the University, resulting in 95 submissions that demonstrated excellent practice, innovation, and dedication across its global community.
The honours for both Dr. Ahamed and the CAS Team stand as testament to UNM's continued commitment to delivering an exceptional student experience that prepares graduates for the demands of industry and society.
Posted on 27th July 2026