UTAR President and CEO, Tan Sri Datuk Dr Ng Lay Swee was conferred the Queensland University of Techonology's highest award, the Hononary Degree of Doctor on 14 March 2004, in recognition of her services to education and ties between Australia and Malaysia.

Thus far, only two other people outside of Australia have received this honour. Said QUT Vice Chancellor, Professor Peter Coaldrake, "It is a very rare honour, and very rare international event, and is not given out very often."

He added. "We decided to confer this award on Tan Sri Ng because of her academic and professional contribution and profile. It is also in recognition of the important role that she has played in developing links between UTAR and QUT, her contribution to Malaysia education and her work with UTAR."

Said Tan Sri Datuk Dr Ng, "It was indeed a surprise to get this award. I do what I do as a service to the community and have never really aimed for anything like this. I am very honoured and am inspired to work harder for the university."

Prior to her return to Malaysia, Tan Sri Datuk Ng was strongly involved in high profile research at both the McGill University of Canada and Florida State University in the United States. She also had the rare and valuable opportunity of working as a post-doctoral research assistant to the late Nobel Laureate, Prof R.G.W. Norrish of Cambridge University. In addition, she had also been awarded the Canadian National Research Council post-graduate scholarship and the Canadian National Research Post Doctoral-Fellowship.