Board of Governors (BOG) Meeting Minutes (June 2026)

Veritas University College

Date:	15.06.2026
Time:	10.30 am – 12.20pm
Venue:	Conference Room, Level 6 VSQ

Attendees:

1. Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Anuwar Ali (Chairman)
2. Mr Raja Singham – BACEG MD and Chief Future Officer / Member of BOG
3. Mr Nadarajah Thiagendran – COO, Veritas UC / Member of BOG
4. Prof Dato’ Sr Dr Omar Osman  - Member of BOG
5. Prof Dr Mohd Hassan Mohd Osman – Member of BOG
6. Prof Dr Amer Hamzah Jantan– Chief Executive and Vice-Chancellor, Veritas UC / Member of BOG
7. Registrar (Jivaranee Nagarathanam) – Registrar, Veritas UC/Secretary

Absent with Apologies:

1. Mr Jayaseelan Vejayon – Member of BOG

1. Welcoming Remarks by Chairman

The Chairperson welcomed all members to the first Board of Governors meeting of the year. Special emphasis was placed on ensuring proper governance procedures, compliance with Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) requirements, and clarity regarding the Board's role and responsibilities.

2. Confirmation of Board Governance and Regulatory Compliance

Discussion

• The Chairperson requested clarification on the requirements for notifying the Ministry of Higher Education regarding Board appointments.
• Management explained that the institution's constitution provides for the establishment of a Board of Governors and that Board composition is documented for licensing and regulatory purposes.
• Members discussed the importance of ensuring compliance with constitutional provisions and governance requirements.

Resolution

• Management will verify current MOHE requirements regarding Board appointments and reporting obligations.
• Relevant governance documents, including the institution's constitution and organizational structure, will be circulated to Board members.

3. Introduction of Board Members and Management Team

Members introduced themselves and shared their professional backgrounds and current appointments.

Key points:

• Several members bring extensive experience in higher education governance, university administration, and industry leadership.
• The importance of declaring conflicts of interest and maintaining confidentiality was emphasized.
• Members agreed that governance decisions should be guided by the institution's constitution and best practices.

4. Institutional Overview and Strategic Direction

Discussion

Management presented the institution's current status and strategic direction.

Key points:

• Veritas University College currently offers programmes through:
  • (i) School of Business, Communication, Law and Digital Technology
  • (ii) School of Education and Social Sciences
• The institution currently offers approximately 26 academic programmes across diploma, bachelor's, master's, DBA, and PhD levels.
• Management highlighted plans to strengthen programme offerings, particularly in psychology, education, business, and law.

Board Feedback

• Members encouraged greater specialization and stronger positioning in selected niche areas.
• Opportunities for collaboration within the wider education group and through reverse-franchise arrangements were discussed.

5. Student Enrolment and Growth Projections

Current Student Population

• Active students: approximately 838.
• Student enrolment has grown steadily from 658 students in 2023 to over 830 students in 2026.
• International students:
  • (i) Conventional programmes: approximately 41 students.
  • (ii) ODL programmes: approximately 91 students.

Future Projections

Projected enrolment:

• 2026: approximately 935 students
• 2027: approximately 1,047 students
• 2028: approximately 1,173 students

Board Feedback

• Members noted that projected growth remains below budget targets.
• Discussion focused on strengthening Online Distance Learning (ODL) offerings and identifying strategic market segments.

6. Teaching and Learning Updates

Management Report

Management reported on:

• Programme reviews and curriculum revisions.
• Ongoing Teaching and Learning Committee meetings.
• Academic quality assurance initiatives.
• Upcoming MQA compliance audits and programme accreditation exercises.

Board Feedback

• Members stressed the importance of maintaining compliance standards and being audit-ready.
• Particular attention should be given to ODL quality assurance requirements and learning management systems.

7. Accreditation and Quality Assurance

Updates

• Institutional submissions for accreditation and quality assessments have been completed.
• The institution is awaiting audit visits and assessment outcomes.
• Efforts are underway to obtain QS Stars recognition and maintain institutional quality standards.

Resolution

• Management will continue preparations for all upcoming accreditation and audit exercises.
• Progress updates will be reported at subsequent Board meetings.

8. Research and Publication Performance

Discussion

Management acknowledged that:

• Research output remains concentrated among a small group of academic staff.
• Publication numbers require improvement.
• Industry and international research collaborations remain limited.

Proposed Initiatives

• Appointment of dedicated personnel to support research and publication activities.
• Increased publication expectations for academic staff.
• Greater utilization of postgraduate research projects and dissertations for publication opportunities.
• Development of collaborative research initiatives.

Board Feedback

• Members emphasized the importance of research performance, particularly if the institution intends to strengthen its university-level positioning.
• Industry-linked research and applied research opportunities should be explored.

9. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Transformation

Discussion

The Board discussed:

• The impact of AI on higher education, particularly in teaching, assessment, law, business, and research.
• The need for AI-enabled learning tools and digital transformation initiatives.
• Challenges associated with AI detection tools and academic integrity.
• Opportunities to integrate AI into curriculum delivery and student learning support.

Resolution

• Management will continue exploring AI-driven teaching, learning, assessment, and student support initiatives.
• AI capability development will be incorporated into institutional strategic planning.

10. Strategic Priorities for 2026–2028

Key Strategic Areas

1. Growth in student enrolment.
2. Expansion of postgraduate offerings.
3. Strengthening institutional branding and market positioning.
4. Enhancement of ODL programmes.
5. Improvement in research output and publications.
6. Expansion of micro-credential offerings.
7. Development of international collaborations.
8. Strengthening graduate employability outcomes.

Board Feedback

• Members encouraged focused growth strategies rather than expansion across too many programme areas.
• Stronger differentiation and market positioning are required in a competitive higher education landscape.

11. Governance Matters

Discussion

The Board agreed on the need for:

• Regular Board meetings.
• Declaration of conflicts of interest.
• Confidentiality commitments.
• Receipt of Senate meeting updates and key academic decisions.
• Proper documentation of governance processes.

Resolution

• A declaration of conflict of interest and confidentiality form will be prepared for Board members.
• Senate updates will be included as a standing agenda item in future meetings.

12. Any Other Business

Discussion

Members discussed:

• Opportunities for micro-credentials and lifelong learning programmes.
• Industry participation in programme delivery.
• Challenges relating to academic staffing, qualification requirements, and talent recruitment.
• Regulatory flexibility required to meet evolving industry needs.

13. Next Meeting

The Board agreed that the next Board of Governors meeting will be held in September 2026 with the possibility of conducting the meeting online.

14. Adjournment

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned with thanks to all members for their participation and contributions.

Prepared by:
Jivaranee Nagarathanam
Registrar

Reviewed by:
Chairman, Board of Governors

Date:19.06.2026