Prof Datuk Dr Khairuddin is the Vice Chancellor at University College of Technology Sarawak (UCTS) based in Sibu, Sarawak effective from 1 February 2018. Prior to that he served as Vice Chancellor for Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) from April 2008 until March 2013 and then as Vice Chancellor for University Malaysia of Computer Science and Engineering (UniMy) based in Putrajaya from April 2014 until January 2018.

He holds a PhD degree in Electronic Systems Engineering from University of Essex, United Kingdom, Master of Science degree (Electrical Engineering) from University of Hawaii at Manoa, USA, and Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), where he was presented with the Best Student Award at the convocation ceremony in 1982.

He started his career as an academic staff at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in Kuala Lumpur from 1982 until 1993. He later joined UNIMAS as one of the pioneer staff when it was established in 1993. At UNIMAS he held various academic and administrative posts besides being a professor and researcher. He was the founding Dean for the Faculty of Engineering, and then became the Dean for the Faculty of Information Technology as well as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation) and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs & Alumni) before became the 4th Vice Chancellor in 2008.

He started his career as an academic staff at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in Kuala Lumpur from 1982 until 1993. He later joined UNIMAS as one of the pioneer staff when it was established in 1993. At UNIMAS he held various academic and administrative posts besides being a professor and researcher. He was the founding Dean for the Faculty of Engineering, and then became the Dean for the Faculty of Information Technology as well as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation) and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs & Alumni) before became the 4th Vice Chancellor in 2008.

He is well recognized international through his professional and research collaborations. In 1993 he was a research fellow at East West Center, Hawaii and in 1998 he was at Global Information and Telecommunication Institute (GITI) at Waseda University, Tokyo as a visiting professor. He also served as the Chairman of Working Group on Policy, Regulations and Special Projects under the Asian Info-communications Council (AIC) from 2001-2008 and currently being appointed as an expert consultant for the Telecommunications Technology Committee (TTC) of Japan to carry out rural ICT projects in ASEAN countries.

In 2001, he was presented with the prestigious “Information Technology Teacher” award by Malaysian National Computer Confederation (MNCC). He was also presented with a number of awards at the national and international levels for his contribution in university leadership, research and pioneering community-based projects related to rural ICT and bridging the digital divide (in particular, the e-Bario Project), such as the Prime Minister’s ICT Award, e-Asia Award, Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management (CAPAM) Gold Award and Geneva International Quality Award. Last year, he was one of the finalists for the ICT Educator of the Year Award organized by Southeast Asia Regional Computer Confederation (SEARCC) in Sydney, Australia.

He is also member of Board of Trustee for Yayasan FELDA (FELDA Foundation) and Board of Directors for Centre of Technical Excellence Sarawak (CENTEXS). In July 2018, he was conferred with the Honorary Doctorate Degree by University of Essex, United Kingdom for his accomplishment in pioneering the use of ICT to bridge the digital divide for rural communities