The Leadership Excellence Program for Chief Librarian and Deputy Chief Librarian of Institutions of Higher Learning (ExceLib) is a strategic collaboration between AKEPT, the Public University Chief Librarian Committee (JKKPUA) and Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM).

The Excelib program is a leadership development and empowerment program targeted at senior officers of academic libraries from grade 48 to grade JUSA in facing the changes in the higher education ecosystem that are very dynamic and challenging as well as the need to increase leadership competencies.

The UTHM Chief Librarian serves as the Excelib Program Head for Cohort 1 and is supported by the Main Committee consisting of Former Chief Librarians (UPSI and UTM) and Public University Chief Librarians (USIM, UM, UPNM, UMP and USM).

This program aims to produce and publish comprehensive training modules for senior officers of academic libraries which are in line with the aspirations of the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) in strengthening governance and talent excellence in academic libraries.

This Leadership Excellence Program also helps the Library of Higher Education Institutions to strengthen the process of implementing a more effective succession plan. The succession plan program requires the provision of knowledge and expertise for Librarians grade 48 and above to fill strategic positions in academic libraries.

A Round Table Discussion (RTD) session was held in April 2021 to identify critical topics for generic and functional leadership. The Round Table Discussion session involved several panels consisting of Chief Librarian, Former Chief Librarian, Academics, Stakeholders and Industry to get views and ideas to strengthen the future direction of the library.

A total of 7 modules namely Personal Leadership Module, Organizational Leadership Module, Open Access Module, Knowledge Management Module, Open Science Module, Research Advocacy Module and Emerging Technologies in Libraries Module which includes 31 sessions have been successfully implemented from August 2021 to January 2022 online.

This program has received full support from UTHM when the Vice Chancellor of UTHM, Prof. Datuk Ts. Dr. Wahid bin Razzaly inaugurated the ExceLib program in August 2021 online.

The program was attended by 40 participants consisting of the new Chief Librarian and Deputy Chief Librarian from 20 public universities in Malaysia.