Professor Dr Stefanie Shamila Pillai Named UM’s Academic Figure of the Year

University Malaysia (UM) recognised one of it’s most impactful scholars as Professor Dr Stefanie Shamila Pillai was awarded the Academic Figure of the Year, the university’s highest individual honour, for her pioneering work in language documentation and preservation.

The award was presented by UM Chancellor, His Royal Highness Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, the Sultan of Perak, during the 2024 UM Excellence Award Ceremony, which celebrated the outstanding contributions of university staff and partners across 45 award categories.

Professor Stefanie, who hails from the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, has spent over a decade documenting and revitalising Malaysian English variations and heritage languages. She is best known for her groundbreaking work on the endangered Melaka Portuguese language, making her the first Malaysian researcher to archive such a language through the internationally recognised Endangered Language Archive (ELAR).

Speaking to reporters after the ceremony, Stefanie shared that her work began in 2009, with formal documentation efforts starting in 2011. Her work has not only been digitally archived for public access but also extended into community engagement. She has collaborated closely with the Melaka Portuguese-Eurasian community to develop learning tools, including mobile applications, aimed at reviving the language among younger generation.

“In term of research, my motto is that it should not just stop at publication, it must make an impact. Language is not just about communication, it carries our culture, our values, and our ways of thinking. When we lose a language, we lose a part of our soul”.

Professor Stefanie’s efforts underscore the impotence of linguistic heritage and the urgent need to preserve Malaysia’s diverse cultural identities through language. Her work reflects the growing global emphasis on community-based research, where academics work hand-in-hand with native speakers to ensure the survival of minority languages.

Also present at the ceremony were UM Vice-Chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Noor Azuan Abu Osman, Pro-Chancellors Toh Puan Dr Aishah Ong and Tan Sri Zainun Ali. In his speech, Professor Azuan highlighted that the university’s research achievements, including a 42% increase in grant acquisitions, amounting to RM163.37 million in 2024.

The award ceremony also recognised recipients across a wide range of categories, including innovative assessments, excellent teaching, academic administrations and outstanding young researches.

Sources: NST