Institute of Electoral Studies
and Advancement of Democracy
A Center of Excellence at UNISEL | EST. 2019
"From the lecture hall to the ballot box, from research papers to state policies – that is the pathway of IESAD.
"
Origins & Establishment History
Beginning as an independent research initiative in 2016, IESAD established itself as a key driver of critical thinking and high-impact policy formulation before being formally established in 2019. As a Center of Excellence under the auspices of Universiti Selangor (UNISEL), we dedicate our efforts to bridging the gap between pure academic research and practical policy reform for the betterment of society.
Our Core Focus
Electoral Studies
Focused on rigorous field research, empirical data collection, and analyzing voting trends to understand the heartbeat of the electorate.
Democracy Advancement
Translating academic insights into actionable state policies, fostering civic and political literacy, and bridging the gap between citizens and governance.
Core Values
Inclusive Governance
We believe that a healthy democracy must be inclusive. IESAD is fully committed to ensuring that the voices of all societal groups, especially vulnerable groups, minorities, and the disabled (OKU) community, are heard, equitably represented, and tangibly integrated into the public policy formulation process.
Character Education & Compassion
Strongly rooted in the 'Mahasiswa BUDIMAN' concept founded at UNISEL, we champion a holistic education approach centered on compassion. Our goal is to nurture future leaders who are not only intellectually competent (intellect-driven), but also possess high moral character, empathy, and deep social concern (character-driven).
Academic Programs & Courses
Master of Political Science
A highly structured postgraduate program offering deep understanding of modern political theory, public policy analysis, and advanced electoral research methodologies to produce authoritative analysts and policymakers at national and national levels.
Scholi Politikou
A high-performance leadership training platform and exposure to contemporary political theories designed specifically to shape critical young leaders.
Sekolah Politik OKU
A pioneering initiative to empower People with Disabilities (OKU) in understanding the democratic system and increasing their active involvement in public advocacy.
Civic & Statehood Literacy
An intensive course on the Federal Constitution, royal institutions, legal systems, and administration to foster informed patriotism.
Dissertation & Democratic Research
A social science methodology reinforcement program focusing on field data collection techniques and quantitative electoral-based analysis.
Budiman Student Leadership
Integration of moral values, ethical leadership, and social responsibility to produce campus intellectuals who actively engage and support communities.
High-Impact Research & Policy
Selangor Disabled (OKU) Policy Formulation 2023-2025
Leading the drafting of strategic policies and inclusive action plans for the Selangor State Government to ensure full protection of rights, economic sustainability, and disabled-friendly infrastructure.
UNDI-18 Research Study
Analyzing political behavior, civic literacy levels, psychological readiness, and automatic voter registration trends of young voters in the country's new electoral landscape.
Selangor Poverty Line (PGK) Study
Re-examining the calculation of the local poverty line and the efficiency of the aid distribution system to restructure state target welfare programs to be more competitive and holistic.
Our Philosophy
Mengakar ke Bumi & Menggapai ke Langit
IESAD firmly champions the 'Mahasiswa BUDIMAN' concept, which is the core of UNISEL's cultural continuity. We believe in the process of shaping a balanced, superior generation; authoritative in terms of sharp intellect (intellect-driven) and noble in terms of moral character development (character-driven).
A leader is not shaped solely within the comfort of a lecture hall, but amidst the pulse and genuine struggle of the community on the ground. We strive to nurture citizens of high character, guided by ethical determination and intellectual wisdom to serve for national sustainability.
Leadership & Fellow Network
Management & External Expertise
IESAD's leadership is steered by internal university experts alongside a prominent network of external fellows who contribute strategic expertise from the corporate sector, government governance agencies, and leading academic institutions in the country.
Discover Our Network
Our research is supported by a robust network of experts. Explore our full directory of Internal and External Fellows who drive our academic excellence and policy impact.
"Kamu perlu menjadi manusia baharu, lebih daripada sekadar penyelidik, lebih daripada sekadar guru. Kamu mestilah menjadi seorang PEMIMPIN."
PM Dr. Hamdan Mohd Salleh
Director, IESAD
"...blooming the UNISEL campus atmosphere from a commonly understood university, into a center of knowledge excellence capable of moving and generating change."
Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim
Prime Minister of Malaysia
Network & Collaborations
IESAD actively collaborates with various state government agencies, Taylor's University, University of Malaya (UM), and research institutions such as Institut Darul Ehsan (IDE) to drive comprehensive policy formulation research and strengthen inclusive community political awareness.
