The office of Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International)  was established in consistent with the establishment of Kolej Universiti Teknikal Kebangsaan Malaysia (KUTKM) under section 20 of the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (Act 30) by Order of Kolej Universiti Teknikal Kebangsaan Malaysia (Incorporation 2001) gazetted as PU (A) 124 on May 3, 2001. This establishment came into force on December 1, 2000. Formerly, the name of the Deputy Rector (Academic and International) are used until KUTKM  has gone through the process of re-branding from the name KUTKM to UTeM on February 1, 2007 in line with the rebranding of the University College’s names for all universities in Malaysia. Since then, the name of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International) has been adopted to date.

During this period, the appointment of Deputy Rector and Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International) are as follows:

1. 1 January 2001 – 31 January 2007: Y. Bhg. Datuk Professor Ismail bin Hassan
2. 1 February 2007 – 31 December 2008: Y. Bhg. Dato’ Professor Dr. Abu bin Abdullah
3. 1 January 2009 – 31 December 2011: Y. Bhg. Dato’ Professor Dr. Mohd Nor bin Husain
4. 1 January 2012 – 15 April 2013: Y.Bhg. Prof. Dato’ Dr. Mohamad Kadim bin Suaidi
5. 16 April 2013 – 31 July 2014: Y.Bhg. Prof. Dr. Shahrin bin Sahib @ Sahibuddin
6. 1 August 2014 – 31 December 2014: Y.Bhg. Dato’ Prof. Dr. Mohd Nor bin Husain
7. 1 January 2015 – 3 January 2020 : Y.Bhg. Prof. Datuk Dr. Mohd Razali bin Muhamad
8. 1 October 2020 – Now ; Y.Bhg. Prof. Dr. Zulkifilie bin Ibrahim

Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International) is under the auspice of six divisions which is Academic Planning & Development Office (PPPA), UTeM International Office (UIC), Centre for Academic Excellence and Scholarship (CAES) and Centre For Resources & Instructional Technology (PSTP), Lifelong Learning Center (PPSH) and Teaching Factory (TF) each led by a Director.