Siti Nurhaliza’s Professorship: Inspiration or Publicity?

UiTM’s appointment of Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza as an Adjunct Professor has sparked debate — is it a smart move to inspire students, or a step that blurs the line between scholarship and celebrity? .

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 8, 2025: When Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) announced Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza Tarudin’s appointment as an Adjunct Professor, social media lit up.Some cheered the move, others rolled their eyes. After all, should a pop icon — no matter how beloved — hold an academic title? .

There’s no denying Siti’s achievements. She’s built a brand that Malaysians trust, navigated the music and business worlds with grace, and inspired millions. Her journey from village girl to entrepreneur is the stuff of local legend. In that sense, she’s a model of hard work and resilience.

But the unease surrounding her appointment isn’t about envy — it’s about principle. A professorship, even an adjunct one, carries academic weight. It’s not a token of fame or goodwill. It represents scholarship, research, and intellectual contribution. When such titles are given to celebrities, no matter how successful, it risks cheapening their meaning.

If UiTM wants to harness Siti’s influence to inspire students, there are other ways to do it — through talks, mentorship, or even collaborations in entrepreneurship. But conferring a title that sits within the academic hierarchy sends a confusing signal about what universities stand for.

Siti doesn’t need the title to prove her worth. Her success already speaks volumes. The question is whether academia needs to borrow star power to make a point — and at what cost to its own credibility.