Prof Dr. Ram Al Jaffri Saad. University Utara, Malaysia.
Prof. Dr. Ram Al Jaffri Bin Saad (appointed May 1, 2023) serves as Assistant Vice‑Chancellor at the UUM College of Business, Dean of Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz School of Accountancy, and Chairman of the Council of Deans/Heads of Accounting at Malaysian public universities. His distinguished trajectory includes serving as Professor at Universiti Utara Malaysia since 2020, preceded by roles from tutor to senior lecturer during a full 19‑year academic ascent. A specialist in Zakat Accounting, Islamic Accounting, and
Behavioral Research in Accounting, Prof. Ram holds a B.Mgt in Accounting (UTM, 2001), an MSc in International Accounting (UUM, 2004), a PhD in Accounting (UUM, 2010), and completed post‑doctoral studies at Hull University, UK (2012). He brings deep expertise in bridging theoretical frameworks with real‑world ethical finance practices.
👤 Profile
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🎓 Education
Prof. Ram’s academic foundation includes a Bachelor in Management Accounting from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (2001), an MSc in International Accounting from UUM (2004), a PhD in Accounting from UUM (2010), and a 2012 post‑doctoral fellowship at Hull University (UK). His rigorous training spans both local and international academic environments. The MSc equipped him with global perspective on cross‑border financial regulation and reporting. The PhD at UUM formalized his investigative approach to accounting behaviors, while the post‑doctoral tenure at Hull enriched his methodological rigor and research network in behavioral and Islamic accounting. Together, these credentials underpin his capacity to lead high‑impact research and educational programs, especially in areas spanning governance, ethics, and faith‑based financial accountability.
💼 Experience
Prof. Ram’s professional journey began in 2001 as a tutor at UUM, followed by a lecturer position in 2004. He was promoted to senior lecturer in 2010, associate professor in 2014, and full professor in 2020. As Assistant Vice‑Chancellor (from May 2023), he oversees academic policy and strategic development across UUM’s College of Business. As Dean of TISSA‑UUM, he directs curriculum design, faculty engagement, and research integration in accountancy education. Additionally, as Chairman of the Council of Deans and Heads of Accounting Departments nationwide, he coordinates inter‑university collaboration, standardizes academic benchmarks, and champions innovation in accounting pedagogy. Prof. Ram’s layered career—with frontline teaching, supervisory leadership, and administrative stewardship—exemplifies a lifelong commitment to education, institutional excellence, and sector‑wide impact.
🔬 Research Interests
Prof. Ram’s primary research focus is on behavioral research in accounting, exploring how human factors shape financial decision‑making and ethics. This seamlessly intertwines with Islamic accounting, particularly Zakat accounting, bridging religious frameworks into fiscal practices and accountability. He’s also deeply engaged in Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) studies, analyzing how social responsibility initiatives impact stakeholder behavior and reporting standards. Through this tri‑focused approach—behavioral accounting, Islamic finance, and ESG—Prof. Ram investigates the intersection of culture, faith, and corporate responsibility. His empirical studies probe decision biases, compliance motives, and institutional trust, yielding actionable insights for policy‑makers, educational leaders, and practitioners globally. Ultimately, his work aims to foster ethical, transparent, and culturally responsive financial systems.
🏆 Awards
Prof. Ram has garnered several commendations recognizing his contributions to accounting research, teaching excellence, and academic leadership. Among these, his outstanding mentorship of PhD and master’s candidates—especially in behavioral, Islamic, and ESG accounting—won faculty‑level excellence awards at UUM. On national ground, he received the Malaysian Accounting Research Excellence Award for his impactful studies on zakat compliance behavior in Islamic institutions. He has been repeatedly nominated for the Best University Leader in Accounting Education award by the Malaysian Higher Education Ministry. His dual stewardship roles at UUM and in national councils have also led to commendations for institutional innovation and cross‑university collaboration. These accolades reflect his sustained influence on accounting pedagogy, research integrity, and faith‑based financial governance.
📚 Publication Top Notes
Understanding tax compliance in indonesian smes: a structural equation modeling approach to tax literacy, knowledge, fairness, power, and trust
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SELF-CONFIDENCE, SELF-REMEMBRANCE AND SINCERITY AMONG STAFF TOWARDS INFORMATION SYSTEMS OUTSOURCING SUCCESS
A conceptual framework for examining trust towards zakat institution
A conceptual model of Hibah giving behavior
An investigation of situational inhibitors to informal learning amongst accountants
Factors affecting and means of managing zakat surplus in Malaysia
Reputation,satisfaction of zakat distribution,and service quality as determinant of stakeholder trust in zakat institutions
The effects of internal control systems on cooperative’s profitability: A case of Koperasi ABC Berhad
The mediating effect of trust on the relationship between attitude and perceived service quality towards compliance behavior of zakah
The moderating effects of financial inclusion on Qardhul Hassan financing acceptance in Nigeria: A proposed framework