Majlis Konvokesyen ke-24 USIM | 2026

I 29 Her professional journey began as a relief teacher in Terengganu, followed by service as a research officer at Universiti Malaya. In 1994, she began her academic career as a lecturer at UUM. In 2009, she returned to her home state of Negeri Sembilan and joined Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM). Throughout her distinguished career, she has been entrusted with various academic and leadership positions, including Head of Programme, Head of the Department of Computer Science, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology, Dean of the Centre for Graduate Studies, and Director of the Islamic Science Institute (ISI). She also led research groups, including Cybersecurity and Systems (CSS) and Responsible AI and Safety for Human Development (RASHD). At USIM, she has been actively involved in nurturing student leadership through an educational philosophy that integrates knowledge with values, ethics, and leadership as a trust (amanah) owed to humanity. Besides supervising 25 Ph.D graduates, she also actively involved in community engagement programmes at both national and international levels, including Kembara Siswa (KEMSIS) and the Global Islamic Student Outreach (GISO) programmes in Türkiye, Lebanon, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and China. In addition, in 2013, she also participated in an academic mission to Gaza organised by the Malaysia Global Network and the Ministry of Higher Education. In 2025, she was selected as an Academic Scholar Visitor at the Institute of Ethics for AI at the University of Oxford, one of the world’s leading centres of academic excellence. Her contributions have gained international recognition through appointments as a Visiting Professor and Visiting Researcher in Japan, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom. She was also entrusted to represent Malaysia at the UNESCO Intergovernmental Meeting on Policy Recommendation on Ethics in AI. With her expertise and leadership, she was appointed as a Senior Fellow AI for Developing Countries Forum (AIFOD) and responsible to be the spokesperson at AIFOD Geneva Summit 2025, held at the United Nations Office in Geneva, Switzerland. There, she represented the voice of the Global South on issues surrounding AI ethics and sensitivities to the local culture. Profesor Ts. Dr. Norita Norwawi was also elected as Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia for her contributions to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and was honoured with the Tokoh Hasanul Mudir Award by USIM in 2013. Her research received the Special Award for Top Winners in the Fundamental category at the International Conference and Exposition on Inventions by Higher Learning Institutions (PECIPTA) in 2019. Her work, Introduction to Islamic Science , also received the Best-Selling e-Book Award (2022) at the 14th MAPIM-KPT Awards in 2023. Her contributions were further recognised when she was honoured with the Tokoh Wanita MADANI Award by LPPKN Negeri Sembilan in 2025 and the Inspirational Mother Award 2026 at the Negeri Sembilan state level, in conjunction with the Mother's Day Celebration. On the global academic stage, she carries the title of Professor with profound gratitude for the blessings of Allah, the blessings of knowledge, the prayers and loving guidance of her parents and teachers, as well as the unwavering support and love of her husband and children, who have been a source of strength throughout her journey. The words of her beloved late father remain forever engraved in her heart: “I have no wealth to leave you as an inheritance. So fill your heart and mind with knowledge.” And another saying that has remained close to her heart: “Humility does not diminish greatness.”