A visionary leader in higher education, global engagement, and women’s leadership
APRU mourns the passing of Dr Yong Zulina Zubairi, a distinguished academic, visionary leader, and deeply respected colleague whose life’s work left an enduring mark on higher education in the Asia-Pacific and beyond. Her passing is a profound loss to Universiti Malaya, to the APRU community, and to the many students, scholars, and leaders whose lives she shaped through her intellect, generosity, and steadfast commitment to global engagement.
With more than three decades of service in higher education, Dr Yong built a remarkable career grounded in academic excellence and purposeful leadership. Trained as a statistician, her scholarly contributions extended far beyond disciplinary boundaries. She supervised numerous postgraduate students, published widely in refereed journals, secured national and international research grants, and cultivated a global network of collaborators. Her academic rigor was matched with special attention for the social dimensions of development, reflected in her research interests spanning graduate employability, poverty, ageing and social protection, women’s leadership, and talent management.
Dr Yong’s influence was especially evident through her senior leadership roles at Universiti Malaya (UM). As Director of the International Relations Office and later as Associate Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagements), she provided strategic direction to UM’s internationalization agenda, integrating global engagement across research, academic programs, community initiatives, and the student experience. Her approach was holistic and values-driven, ensuring that internationalization served not only institutional ambitions but also societal needs.
Dr Yong served as Registrar, where she led talent management initiatives and was invested in developing people and systems. She remained active as a senior research fellow at the Social Well-Being Research Centre and was attached to the Institute for Advanced Studies, continuing to contribute meaningfully to research and mentorship.
Dr Yong was a steadfast and highly valued member of the APRU community. As a Senior International Leader, she actively participated in APRU governance meetings, including the Senior International Leaders (SILs) meeting in Mexico in 2017, and played a key role in hosting APRU events at Universiti Malaya. UM’s hosting of the APRU Undergraduate Leadership Program (ULP) in 2015 reflected the university’s strong engagement with APRU during her tenure in international leadership.
Her commitment to women’s leadership and capacity building was particularly impactful. Dr Yong was part of the Core Group of the APRU Women in Leadership (APWiL) initiative from its inception, helping to shape its vision and direction. In 2024, she was a core contributor to drafting the Terms of Reference for the APWiL program, and she generously gave her time as a mentor and workshop facilitator for early-career academics at Universiti Malaya. Most recently, she served as a mentor in APRU’s SDG Education for Global Citizenship program, in the 2025 cohort, where her guidance, warmth, and insight were deeply appreciated by participants.
Beyond her professional achievements, Dr Yong will be remembered for her professionalism, empathy, and kindness. She was a trusted mentor, a thoughtful leader, and a colleague who listened with care and acted with purpose. Her presence brought calm, clarity, and encouragement, especially to those navigating early or challenging stages of their careers.
APRU extends its deepest condolences to Dr Yong Zulina Zubairi’s family, friends, and colleagues at Universiti Malaya. Her legacy lives on through the institutions she strengthened, the initiatives she helped build, and the many individuals she inspired. She will be remembered with profound respect, gratitude, and affection by the APRU community and by all who had the privilege of working alongside her.