UM Academic First Malaysian Appointed To Prestigious Prince Claus Chair
KUALA LUMPUR, June 26 (Bernama) -- Associate Professor Dr Helena Muhamad Varkkey of Universiti Malaya (UM) has become the first Malaysian academic to be appointed to the prestigious Prince Claus Chair in Equity and Development at the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
In a statement, UM said Dr Helena, from the Department of International and Strategic Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, will hold the chair for a two-year term from Sept 1, 2025, to Sept 1, 2027, while continuing her academic and research responsibilities at the university.
The Prince Claus Chair recognises exceptionally promising academics from low- and middle-income countries whose work contributes significantly to research and education in equity and international development.
Commenting on her appointment, Dr Helena said, "I am especially honoured to join the distinguished group of researchers from the Global South who have held the Prince Claus Chair in Equity and Development.
"As a Southeast Asian researcher working on Southeast Asian problems, I am pleased to contribute to the Chair's mission of developing and supporting knowledge from and for the Global South. This appointment provides an important opportunity to deepen conversations on environmental governance, equity, and sustainable development in our region and beyond," she added.
As Prince Claus Chair, she will focus on transboundary haze governance in Southeast Asia, an issue with significant environmental, economic and public health implications across the region.
She will also contribute to the Water, Securitisation Anxieties and Border Imaginaries (WASABI) project, which examines the lived experiences and perceptions of communities navigating securitised water borders in Sri Lanka, Central America, the Eastern Mediterranean, the Southern Caucasus and the Sulu Sea in the Philippines.
Reflecting on the significance of her research, Dr Helena said, "The haze is not a natural disaster. It is a failure of governance and diplomacy, and it is also a deeply human story. Through this appointment, I hope to contribute to a better understanding of how environmental challenges intersect with questions of development, security, and equity across borders."
An internationally recognised scholar in environmental governance, Dr Helena specialises in transboundary haze governance and global palm oil politics in Southeast Asia. Her research has contributed to policy-relevant publications and initiatives addressing regional environmental challenges, while she has also edited and produced reports for organisations including the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, UNICEF and the ASEAN Secretariat.
UM said the appointment underscores the university's growing reputation as a leading research institution and reflects the global impact of its scholars in addressing complex regional and international challenges.
-- BERNAMA
