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Bio.

Professor Dr. Mohammad Falahat is a distinguished academic leader currently serving as a Professor and the Director of the Strategic Research Institute (SRI) at the Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU), Malaysia. Bridging the gap between practice and theory, he brings over a decade of corporate leadership experience to his academic career, having previously served as the CEO of Efficient Edge and Director of Drywall Collection. He holds a Doctorate in Business Administration (International Entrepreneurship) from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), where he was awarded the prestigious Gold Medal as the top doctorate student. He also earned an MBA in Information Technology Management from Multimedia University (MMU).

 

Prior to his current roles at APU, Professor Falahat dedicated a decade to academic leadership at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), serving as the Chairperson for both the Centre for Entrepreneurial Sustainability and the Centre for Sustainable Development and Corporate Social Responsibility in Business. He has a proven track record of securing and leading high-impact research grants, including the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) and Trans Disciplinary Research Grant Scheme (TRGS) from the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE). Furthermore, he has driven vital policy and industry projects funded by the MASA Policy Development Programme (MPDP), Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC), Private Pension Administrator Malaysia (PPA), and the MCA Belt and Road Centre.

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A passionate educator, he holds a "Faculty Development in International Entrepreneurship Program" certificate from the University of Colorado Denver and is a PSMB-certified Train the Trainer. He actively supervises Master’s and Ph.D. candidates and regularly conducts highly sought-after training sessions on Data Analytics, Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM), Research Methodology, and Entrepreneurship.

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His core research expertise spans SME Internationalization, International Entrepreneurship, Sustainability, Business Strategies, and advanced SEM-PLS data analysis. A highly cited scholar, Professor Falahat has published extensively in top-tier SSCI-indexed journals, including Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management (SSCI: 8.74), Technological Forecasting and Social Change (SSCI: 5.8), Journal of International Management (SSCI: 3.8), and International Marketing Review (SSCI: 2.9) to name a few.

​Academic Qualifications

Doctoral Level (2008 – 2013)

  • Degree: Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) in International Entrepreneurship, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) – 1st November 2008 to 13th April 2013.

  • Academic Standing: CGPA: 3.54 (#146 in QS World University Rankings 2025).

  • Dissertation Title: Born Globals among the Malaysian SMEs: Mediating Effect of Marketing Competencies on Foreign Market Performance (GPA Grade A: Received Gold Medal from USM as top doctorate student).

  • Equivalence Assessment: Degree assessed as equivalent to a USA Doctorate's degree and Canadian Doctorate's degree as per WES (World Education Services).

  • Link: https://badges.wes.org/Evidence?i=ec91f402-1fa6-4d72-a952-c70f322af7ce&type=ca

 

Master's Level (2005 – 2007)

  • Degree: Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Information Technology Management, Multimedia University (MMU) – 14th March 2005 to 28th June 2007.

  • Academic Standing: CGPA: 3.63 (#1001-1200 in QS World University Rankings 2025).

  • Thesis Title: Role and Effectiveness of WIKI Technology to Support Knowledge Management in the Academic Environment (GPA Grade A).

 

Bachelor's Level (1999 – 2003)

  • Degree: Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Computer Software Engineering, Sharif University of Technology (Kish University Campus) – 23rd September 1999 to 16th July 2003.

  • Academic Standing: CGPA: 14.07/20 (#342 in QS World University Rankings 2025).

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Academic Experience

Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) (2007 – Current)

  • Director, Strategic Research Institute: 1st July 2024 to Current.

  • Professor: 15th May 2023 to Current.

  • Part-Time Lecturer: 1st Aug 2007 to 31st Jan 2011.

 

Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) (2013 – Current)

  • Adjunct Professor: 1st Jan 2023 to Current.

  • Adjunct Associate Professor: 1st Apr 2023 to 31st Dec 2023.

  • Associate Professor: 1st Apr 2021 to 1st Apr 2023.

  • Assistant Professor: 1st Apr 2013 to 31st Mar 2021.

 

City University, formerly known as Unity (2008)

  • Head of Entrepreneurship Department: 1st Jan 2008 to 31st Jun 2008.

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Administrative Positions at University

Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) Leadership Roles

  • Head of Subgroup of Entrepreneurship / Commercialisation / Monetisation of Asset: Developed UTAR’s 10-Year Strategic Plan (year 2023-2032).

  • Chairperson (Centre for Entrepreneurial Sustainability): 1st Jan 2021 to 1st Apr 2023.

  • Expert Panel Chairperson for UTAR Entrepreneurship Development: 1st Jan 2019 to 1st Apr 2023.

  • Chairperson (Centre for Sustainable Development and Corporate Social Responsibility in Business): 1st April 2013 to Dec 2020.

  • Sub-Committee Member of the Strategic Monitoring and Risk Management Committee: Reviewed and evaluated UTAR’s 10-Year Strategic Plan (year 2013-2022) as well as developed and reviewed the Risk Management Framework.

 

Student Mentorship

  • Mentor: Guided the group of UTARian students who made it to the top 10 in the world for the Global Final in the Alibaba GDT Global Challenge 2021 on 7th Dec 2021.

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Services to the Community, Society & Nation

Management & Community Roles

  • Chairman of the Committee for Joint Management Corporation (JMC): The Park Sky Residence & The Park Signature Shop Offices at Pavilion Bukit Jalil, August 2021 to Current.

  • Member of the Committee for the Joint Management Body (JMB): Savanna 1&2 condominium, Bukit Jalil, December 2019 to December 2021.

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Editorial Services & Academic Board Memberships

Associate Editor

  • RAE-Revista de Administração de Empresas (Journal of Business Management): Indexed in SSCI and Scopus. Publisher: FGV´s Sao Paulo School of Business Administration.

 

Guest Editor

  • Sustainability: Special Issue on "Emerging Market Firm Internationalization". Indexed in Web of Science (SSCI - Impact Factor 3.89) and Scopus. Publisher: MDPI.

 

Editorial Board Member & Journal Roles

  • Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Administration: Indexed in Web of Science: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus, and Australia Business Deans Council (ABDC) Journal Quality List. Publisher: Emerald Publishing.

  • Technology Innovation Management Review (TIM Review): Indexed in Web of Science: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus, and Australia Business Deans Council (ABDC) Journal Quality List. Publisher: Carleton University.

  • Middle East Journal of Management: Indexed in Web of Science: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI). Publisher: INDERSCIENCE Publishers.

  • Journal for Global Business Advancement: Indexed in Scopus (Elsevier). Publisher: INDERSCIENCE Publishers.

  • Journal for International Business and Entrepreneurship Development: Indexed in ESCI and Scopus (Elsevier). Publisher: INDERSCIENCE Publishers.

  • Electronic Journal of Business and Management (EJBM): Indexed in MyCite, BASE, and Scilit. DOAJ and Scopus indexing in progress. Publisher: Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation.

  • Journal of Applied Technology and Innovation (JATI): Indexed in MyCite, BASE, and Scilit. DOAJ and Scopus indexing in progress. Publisher: Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation.

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Industrial Experience

Drywall Collection Sdn Bhd, Malaysia (2008 – 2013)

  • Role & Duration: Director, 1st Jul 2008 to 31st Mar 2013.

 

Efficient Edge (M) Sdn Bhd, Malaysia (2007 – 2012)

  • Role & Duration: CEO, 1st May 2007 to 31st Dec 2012.

 

Ofogh Sanat Company (2003 – 2007)

  • Role & Duration: Business Development Manager, 1st Jan 2003 to 30th Apr 2007.

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