YBhg Ir. Academician Emeritus Professor Tan Sri Dato’  Dr Chuah Hean Teik has been awarded China’s Government Friendship Award 2021.

Prof Dr Chuah Hean Teik, the Past President of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (2008-2019), an eminent scholar, a researcher, and an academic and technical leader, received the 2021 Friendship Award from the government of the People's Republic of China for his efforts in facilitating friendly exchanges and cooperation between China and other countries; particularly in culture, education, science, and technology as well as his important contributions towards China's economic and social development.

Professor Chuah was the President the Institution of Engineers Malaysia (2009-2011) and the President of The Federation of Engineering Institutions of Asia and the Pacific (FEIAP) from 2011 to 2015. He strongly advocates mutual recognition of engineering degrees in Asia and the Pacific region by promoting the FEIAP Engineering Education Guidelines.

Prof Chuah has been working closely with the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) and Northwestern Polytechnical University in Xian China to promote international scientific and technological cooperation, and to develop cooperative relations with scientific and technological organisations and personnel worldwide.

Tan Sri Prof Chuah has also been actively conducting seminars, workshops and training to promote engineering education and international mobility of engineering teams. He has conducted more than 10 online training sessions and workshops on engineering education and accreditation from Aug 2020 to Dec 2021 during the Covid19 pandemic period, attracting more than 2000 participants from many economies including Malaysia, China, Myanmar, Philippines, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Singapore, Australia, Ghana, Rwanda, Nigeria, Mauritius, Pakistan and more.

He is currently the President of the ASEAN Academy of Engineering and Technology, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Engineering Education of Federation of Engineering Institutions of Asia and the Pacific, and Chair of Africa, Asia and the Pacific Accord Engineering Education Council. In addition, Tan Sri Prof Chuah has been a Consultant Professor to Northwestern Polytechnical University in Xi'an since 2018 and University Advisor of Sanya University in Hainan, China since 2020. He is also currently the Chairman of the UTAR Hospital Board and Council Member of UTAR.

The Friendship Award from the Chinese government is the highest award to recognise foreign experts who have made outstanding contributions to China's modernization and international friendly exchanges and cooperation. The recipients of this Award are selected by the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs (SAFEA) under the State Council. The award is conferred as part of the celebration for the National Day of the People's Republic of China. The award consists of a medal and an award certificate. The medal is decorated with a picture of the Great Wall on the obverse along with the inscription "Friendship Award" in Chinese at the top and in English at the bottom. However, due to Covid19 pandemic, Prof Chuah was unable to attend the award ceremony in person.

UTAR congratulates Ir. Academician Emeritus Professor Tan Sri Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik on this very significant award and wishes him even greater successes in the years ahead.