Dato’ Professor Dr. Mohammad Shatar Sabran has been at the forefront of higher education quality assurance since his appointment as Chief Executive Officer of the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) on February 8th, 2021. Under his leadership, MQA has played a pivotal role in maintaining and advancing the standards of Malaysia's higher education system. As the agency under the Ministry of Higher Education, MQA is entrusted with ensuring that Malaysia’s higher education remains globally competitive and meets rigorous quality benchmarks. Dato' Shatar’s influence extends across the region, where he serves as President of the ASEAN Quality Assurance Network (AQAN), overseeing 21 member nations in driving quality education initiatives across ASEAN.

Dato’ Shatar’s began his educational journey with a     Diploma in General Studies from Indiana University, Bloomington, before advancing to earn both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Community and Regional Planning from Iowa State University, USA. In 1999, he completed his doctorate in Leadership and Community Development from University of Missouri, Colombia USA.

His rise into leadership began with his appointment as Deputy Vice Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni) at Universiti Putra Malaysia in 2013. Demonstrating strategic vision and commitment to student development, Dato’ Shatar's transformative leadership Led to his appointment of Vice Chancellor at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris in 2017. In this capacity, he spearheaded various initiatives that not only elevated the institution but also positioned it as a key player in Malaysia's education sector.

A highly sought-after speaker and thought leader, Dato' Shatar has delivered over 800 talks globally, sharing his insights on topics ranging from leadership to community development and quality assurance in education. His intellectual contributions include the publication of over 40 books, solidifying his reputation as a leading authority in these fields.

His distinguished career has garnered numerous national and international honors, reflecting his influence and contributions to academia and beyond. Among his accolades are the ‘Extraordinary Performance Award’ from Iowa State University, the Media Personality Award 2010, the Gold Award for Innovation and Research in Counselling 2010, the prestigious ‘Anugerah Akademik Negara’ 2011 and ‘Anugerah Khas Zakaria Kasa’ 2024 (UPSI) for excellence in teaching. He has also been recognized as one of the Outstanding Intellectuals of the 21st Century by the International Biographical Centre, England, and listed in the Who’s Who in the World.

Dato' Shatar continues to share his expertise as a keynote speaker at renowned conferences worldwide, including the International Conference on Technology, Engineering, Sciences and Education (ICTESE) 2024, 2023 ASAIHL Conference in Japan, MACEE@60 Conference 2023, MQA International Conference (MQAIC) 2023, ENQA General Assembly 2022 and the UK-ENIC 2022 Conference. His recent engagements further underscore his commitment to shaping the future of education not only in Malaysia but also on the global stage.