I am Erma Rahayu Mohd Faizal Abdullah, currently serving as the Deputy Dean of Student Affairs (HEP) at the Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, Universiti Malaya. In this role, I lead initiatives related to student development, welfare, mobility, and employability, with a strong focus on nurturing well-rounded graduates who are academically strong, industry-ready, and globally engaged.

Alongside my leadership responsibilities, I continue to contribute actively to academia through teaching and research in Artificial Intelligence. My academic interests lie in computer vision, machine learning, and explainable AI (XAI), with applications in healthcare, education, and manufacturing. I have led and contributed to impactful projects such as UMFit, a real-time monitoring system for cardiac patients aimed at improving healthcare accessibility and reducing clinical workload. My research also extends to dentistry using CBCT imaging and industry collaborations to enhance automation and quality systems.

In teaching, I am actively involved in postgraduate education, delivering courses such as Artificial Intelligence: Principles & Techniques, Computing Mathematics, and Data Privacy and Artificial Intelligence Ethics. My teaching approach emphasizes high-order thinking, critical analysis, and the application of AI concepts to real-world challenges.

Beyond the classroom, I am deeply committed to student mentorship and talent development. I actively mentor students in hackathon and innovation-based activities, guiding them in problem framing, solution design, and pitching. These engagements are aligned with my broader goal of enhancing students’ creativity, teamwork, and readiness to solve complex, real-world problems.

Ethical AI remains a central pillar of my work. As an IEEE CertifAIEd™ Authorized Assessor, I focus on algorithmic fairness, transparency, and data privacy. I integrate explainability techniques into AI systems to ensure models are interpretable, accountable, and aligned with responsible AI principles.

I also actively support international engagement and academia–industry collaboration, creating opportunities that strengthen both student exposure and research relevance.

Driven by a commitment to impactful innovation and student empowerment, I continue to contribute to the development of responsible AI solutions while nurturing future-ready graduates equipped to address complex global challenges.