Professor Emeritus Dr Azirah Hashim FASc

Faculty of Languages and Linguistics Universiti Malaya

Professor Emeritus Dr Azirah Hashim FASc specialises in Language Contact in Southeast Asia, English in ASEAN, higher education in ASEAN, and academic and professional discourse. Her expertise lies in Applied Linguistics, specialising in English and Multilingualism in Southeast Asia and ASEAN.

She has held numerous leadership positions, nationally and internationally. Notably, Dr Azirah became the first Asian to serve as President of the International Association of Applied Linguistics (AILA) from 2021 to 2024. In this role, she oversees 35 affiliates with 8,000 members worldwide, including regional networks like the AILA ASEAN network. She also holds the distinction of being the Founding President of the Malaysian Association of Applied Linguistics. Additionally, she is an honorary life member of the Executive Committee of the Asia Pacific Languages for Specific Purposes and Professional Communication Association and previously an Executive Committee member of the International Association of Forensic Linguists.

Dr Azirah's contributions extend to her leadership of the Cluster of Humanities and Ethics at UM from 2010 to 2015. As an educator and research-focused academic, she boasts a portfolio of over 130 publications, including 17 books, articles in international journals, and book chapters published by renowned international publishers. Her academic impact is reflected in her H-index of 25, with 2,040 citations.

Through her collaborations with researchers at national and international levels, Dr Azirah was essential in enhancing UM's standing, particularly within the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics. These collaborations have fostered strong relationships with various stakeholders. Notably, her co-authored book with Gerhard Leitner, titled "English in Southeast Asia and ASEAN: Transformation of Language Habitats" has received acclaim for its comprehensive exploration of the language's evolution over centuries.