Kuala lumpur: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Graduate School of Business (UKM-GSB) has launched the UKM-GSB Alumni Leadership and Fellowship Association (ALFA) as a platform for graduates and alumni to share expertise, foster leadership qualities, and strengthen their professional networks: The Dean of UKM-GSB, Prof Dr Zafir Khan Mohamed Makhbul, explained that ALFA will also act as a catalyst for strategic partnerships between alumni, industry leaders, and the university itself through the sharing of intellectual insight, industrial expertise, and professional connections.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, ALFA was established to fortify alumni bonds and build a network across the nation, creating a vibrant ecosystem for ongoing professional and leadership development. Prof Dr Zafir Khan expressed hopes that this new association will further elevate the UKM-GSB brand on the global stage and build public confidence in the significant contributions the school makes to both industry and the community.
The inauguration of ALFA took place during the UKM-GSB graduates’ appreciation dinner, celebrating the academic success of new graduates and formally welcoming them as the association’s newest members. Prof Zafir highlighted that UKM-GSB has secured a range of international accolades, including its full accreditation by The Alliance on Business Education and Scholarship for Tomorrow (ABEST21), maintained since 2015, and the recent 2024 International Kaizen Award.
Furthermore, the institution has held full accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) since 2018. This accreditation has now been successfully extended for another six years, through to 2031, which is a testament to the school’s sustained commitment to providing world-class graduate education in business management.
Prof Zafir also shared that UKM-GSB has been listed in the 151-200 band of the QS Global MBA Rankings 2026, establishing it as the second-best business school in Malaysia and the 23rd best in Asia. This achievement confirms that the MBA programmes offered are of the highest quality and competitive on a global scale. He added that UKM-GSB continues to expand its academic network through memberships in the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) and the Asia-Pacific Association of Business Schools (AAPBS).
The school has also forged strategic partnerships with Emerald Group Publishing and the Chartered Institute of Islamic Finance Professionals (CIIF). As a result, two of its academics, Prof Ts Dr Mohd Helmi Ali and Associate Prof Dr Abdullah Mamun, have been recognised among the world’s top 2 percent of scientists for 2025 in a study conducted by Stanford University and Elsevier, demonstrating the calibre and global impact of the research community.
Meanwhile, ALFA president Muhammad Hazwan Hussein mentioned that the association will open up concrete career and business opportunities for graduates. He explained that the association’s members work across corporate, entrepreneurial, and government sectors, giving graduates direct insight into the job market and enhancing the value of their degrees.
Muhammad Hazwan outlined plans to roll out several key programmes for graduates and alumni, including a Leadership Series with top industry figures, dedicated mentoring sessions, and a Leadership Summit that will convene renowned local and foreign figures. He also emphasized leveraging UKM-GSB’s global alumni network to tap into industry leaders from regions like Indonesia, China, and the Middle East for international exposure and collaboration opportunities.
To date, over 4,500 alumni have registered as members of the association.