By: Azman Zakaria
SERDANG, Jan 12: Tuanku Chancellor of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, has urged the graduates to not only equip themselves for the job market but also have skills to become active, responsible, well mannered, and trustworthy individuals that uphold ways of humane living.
Such graduates, said His Royal Highness, would bring blessings and prosperity to other people and the environment, ultimately ensuring a sustainable future.
"The success achieved is not only in terms of academics but also on the personalities of the graduates," said His Royal of Highness at the 44th UPM Convocation Ceremony held at the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Culture and Arts Centre here today.
His Royal Highness conferred the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D), Master's degrees, Bachelor's degrees, and Diplomas to 960 graduates at the 5th session of the Convocation Ceremony.
His Royal Highness also presented the Chancellor's Gold Medal Award to Aini Nazihah Hasin @ Hassan from the Bachelor of Science programme in Physics with Honours, Faculty of Science; recipient of the Royal Education Award (Bumiputera) to Putera Mohamad Iskandar Jamil from the Bachelor of Horticultural Science programme with Honours, Faculty of Agriculture; and recipient of the Royal Education Award (Non-Bumiputera) to Ruby Chow Heng Yee from the Bachelor of Human Development Science programme, Faculty of Human Ecology.
His Royal Highness also expressed that the graduates should strive further to foster the dignity of their parents, families, and the country at a higher level through the knowledge learned.
His Royal Highness also reminded the graduates to uphold the country's constitutions and laws so that they are free from misconducts that can tarnish the dignity of their families, nation, and country, thus becoming responsible citizens with high integrity.
His Royal Highness also urged the graduates to keep their synergy with the alma mater, UPM, as a sign of gratitude for the sacrifices made by the university staff to realise the success of graduates, by contributing to the development of UPM students and helping the university to be on the right track in developing a knowledgeable and visionary generation.
While congratulating UPM, which celebrated the 50th anniversary of its establishment as a university last year, His Royal Highness hoped the university would continue its excellence for the next 50 years with the spirit of solidarity among staff, students, and alumni.
His Royal Highness hoped the UPM Strategic Plan 2021-2025 launched last December would further strengthen the position and role of UPM as a Tower of Knowledge and hoped that the plan would be supported by all parties, including graduates who will become UPM alumni.
"UPM has shown a significant improvement in the ranking of the best universities in the world, and I hope all parties can provide strong support so that UPM can realise its function and role entirely to the community and country, said His Royal Highness.
His Royal Highness also said that although the impact of COVID-19 was huge on the Higher Education Institutions (HEI), including UPM, which had to postpone the convocation ceremony last year, universities had vigorously curbed the spread of the pandemic. - UPM
