About Dr. Zalina Shari
Associate Professor | Sustainability + Architecture | Universiti Putra Malaysia
Dr. Zalina Shari is an Associate Professor and the Deputy Dean of Academic, International and Student Affairs & Alumni at the Faculty of Design and Architecture, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). She previously served as Head of the Architecture Department (2019–2020) and has consistently championed the integration of sustainability within design education and practice.
She holds a PhD in Architecture from the University of Adelaide, South Australia, specialising in building sustainability assessment.
Academic Background & Teaching
With her expertise in sustainable design and performance assessment, Dr. Zalina teaches sustainability-related courses in both the Bachelor of Science in Architecture and the Master of Architecture programs at UPM.
Beyond the classroom, she actively engages with government agencies, NGOs, and educational institutions to promote green building awareness and knowledge-sharing on sustainability issues and rating tools.
Supervision & Mentorship
Dr. Zalina has supervised 9 MSc and 12 PhD students in the areas of sustainable architecture and planning. Of these, 11 students have completed their degrees, including 5 MSc students as the main supervisor, and 3 PhD and 3 MSc students as co-supervisors.
She is committed to mentoring the next generation of scholars, particularly in sustainability-focused research.
Publications & Writing
Her scholarly contributions include:
- 3 edited books
- 16 book chapters
- 33 journal articles
- 13 conference papers
- 25 articles in professional magazines and
- 3 articles in newspapers
From 2015 to 2023, she served as the Malaysia correspondent and contributing author for FuturArc: The Voice of Green Architecture in Asia-Pacific.
Conference & Editorial Work
Dr. Zalina has chaired three national conferences on sustainable architecture (2012, 2015, 2018) and one international conference in 2018.
She was the Editor of Alam Cipta: International Journal of Sustainable Tropical Design Research and Practice from 2013 to 2021.
Currently, she serves on the editorial boards of:
- Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities (PJSSH)
- New Design Ideas (NDI)
- International Journal of Built Environment and Sustainability (IJBES)
- Horizon Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences (JHSS)
- Review board member of Smart and Sustainable Built Environment (SASBE)
Professional Contributions
Dr. Zalina served as a board member of the Malaysia Green Building Council (2014–2018) and chaired its Education and Research Committee. She continues to collaborate with local and regional stakeholders to promote sustainable practices in the built environment.
Awards & Recognition
Dr. Zalina has received multiple recognitions for her academic leadership and teaching excellence, including:
- UPM Excellent Service Awards (2004, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2019–2022)
- Faculty-level Best Academician in Teaching & Learning (2016, 2017)
- Vice-Chancellor Fellowship Award for Excellent Educator (2017)
- UPM Nominee for the National Academic Award 2019 (Teaching Category)
Purpose of This Blog
This blog is a personal academic platform — a space to share reflections, research highlights, teaching insights, and thoughts on public engagement. Through concise writing and open conversations, Dr. Zalina aims to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and everyday understanding of sustainability in the built environment.
Explore More
👉 View My Publications
👉 Research & Supervision
👉 Teaching Portfolio
👉 Awards & Recognition