Dr Nor Nazeranah Omar Din’s international recognition celebrates more than two decades in education, personal perseverance and a supportive academic community at APU that enables her to grow and serve others.

For Dr Nor Nazeranah Omar Din, an educator’s greatest reward is seeing a student flourish. 

One such moment came when a former student, now the owner of an international supply chain business, returned to Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) as an industry speaker. Sharing his experience with her current students, he brought business lessons to life and demonstrated how mentorship can influence lives long after graduation. 

That commitment to helping others progress has earned the Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader for International Business Management at APU the World Builder Award 2026 from World Education Policy (WEP). 

Announced during the virtual WEP World Builder Global Summit & Awards on 5 October, the award and her inclusion among the 100 WEP World Builders 2026 recognise her contributions to education, leadership and social impact. 

Building Futures Through Education

Across more than two decades, Dr Nor Nazeranah has taught and supervised students from certificate to postgraduate and executive education levels, in fields including human resource management, international business, entrepreneurship and supply chain management. 

Her work centres on helping students develop the judgement, confidence and resilience to apply their knowledge responsibly. 

At APU, this means creating opportunities to learn beyond textbooks. Industrial visits introduce students to business operations, quality management and sustainability practices. Guest lectures connect them with practitioners, while simulations, poster presentations and game-based activities encourage them to question, collaborate and explain their ideas. 

These experiences reflect her belief that education should prepare graduates to contribute meaningfully to their workplaces and communities.

A Supportive Base for Growth

Dr Nor Nazeranah’s recognition draws on a career developed across institutions. Since joining APU, she has found a supportive base in the School of Business (SoB), from which to build on that experience and pursue new initiatives.

She credits Professor Dr Kashif Hussain, Head of SoB, with providing encouragement, trust and opportunities to develop her teaching, research, industry engagement and student activities.

Within the School’s Management, Operations and Research Cluster, Academic Leader Ms Jasminder Kaur Harbindar Jeet Singh has helped cultivate a collaborative environment where colleagues support continuous learning and scholarly development.

Dr Nor Nazeranah also acknowledges Mr Conrad Romuald Pereira, Lecturer and Programme Leader for Diploma in Business IT and Certificate in Business Administration at SoB, for guiding and supporting her from her earliest days at APU.

Together, these relationships have given her confidence to explore ideas and continue growing. Her experience illustrates how institutional support translates into opportunities for academics to develop their interests while enriching student learning.

Growing Through Mentorship

Alongside her professional responsibilities, Dr Nor Nazeranah pursued her own academic development. On 19 October 2026, she received the Senate Letter confirming the successful completion of her doctoral studies.

She credits Associate Professor Dr Jugindar Singh’s supervision with strengthening her research skills and helping her approach questions with greater intellectual confidence.

“Associate Professor Dr Jugindar Singh consistently challenged me to think deeper, question assumptions, and push beyond my perceived limitations. His mentorship was instrumental in shaping not only my doctoral research journey but also my development as an academic,” she said.

The experience continues to inform her teaching and supervision, allowing her to pass on the encouragement and thoughtful questioning that supported her own progress.

Strength Drawn from Family

Balancing teaching, academic leadership, research and family commitments required perseverance. Like many women in academia, Dr Nor Nazeranah had to make room for her ambitions alongside responsibilities to others.

Her late father, Haji Omar Din bin Haji Fakir Mohammad, instilled values of integrity, humility and discipline that continue to guide her. Her mother, Puan Zahora Bibi binti Haji Jan Mohammad, remains a source of strength through her encouragement and belief in her daughter’s abilities.

Their influence sustains her conviction that education can create opportunities across generations. Her achievements carry the contributions of family members and mentors who helped her persevere.

Taking Education Beyond Campus

Her commitment to opportunity also extends beyond university life.

Through collaboration with the Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii), she has contributed to employability and talent development initiatives that help participants strengthen their professional skills and workplace readiness.

Looking ahead, she hopes to expand research, strengthen academic and industry partnerships, promote sustainable business practices and create further opportunities for students and colleagues.

For fellow academics, her journey offers encouragement to pursue personal development and collaborations that can benefit the wider community. At APU, she has found support to carry those ambitions forward.

“Education has never been just a profession for me. It is a lifelong commitment to helping others discover their potential, overcome challenges, and create positive impact within their communities,” she said.

“Every milestone I have achieved reflects the sacrifices, support, and encouragement of my family, mentors, colleagues, students, and leaders who have been part of this remarkable journey.”