Alhamdulillah, Praise be to Allah SWT, for the success and excellence achieved in 2017 which further expands the legacy of UPM as one of Leading Research Universities in Malaysia.
UPM is now among the top 1% of the best universities in the world and fifth best within ASEAN. These achievements are due to the direct or indirect contributions of all UPM staff (past and present), students and alumni.
On behalf of the University Management, I wish to congratulate and thank everyone for their relentless cooperation, contributions and services to UPM. My heartfelt gratitude goes to DYMM Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj Ibni Almarhum Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah for His Majesty's advice and guidance which have resulted in UPM's success in the world as a university of international repute. I wish to thank the Ministry of Higher Education, especially the Minister, YB Dato Seri Idris Jusoh, who has given his full support to UPM in its quest for even greater excellence.
UPM's 229th position in the QS World Ranking and 36th in the QS Asia University Ranking are the highest ever achieved. These achievements have made UPM the best university in Malaysia, taking into account the history of its establishment. UPM also won the best Intellectual Property Management (Public University) Award, the Best Public University Entrepreneurial Award, received a 6 Star in SETARA and many other awards at national and international levels - a list of achievements too long to mention here.
UPM has also produced a World Champion; UPM Olympian Cheong Jun Hoon who became the first Malaysian athlete to win gold medal in the 10m platform diving at the 2017 Aquatic World Championship in Budapest, Hungary. UPM athletes contributed thirty seven (37) medals; fifteen (15) gold, eleven (11) silver and eleven (11) bronze in the 2017 SEA Games. UPM students also won many other competitions, such as, in debate and public speaking, which not only made the University proud but indirectly contributed to the holistic development of students and relevant to the progress of the nation.
Apart from those mentioned above, UPM also champions collaboration with industries to value add and increase visibility of industry partners in the nation's higher education agenda. This strategic collaboration has given great impact to the university, seen from the perspective of the CEO@Faculty program via the appointed CEOs. Among the most notable success is the UPM-Air Asia Livery via Tan Sri Anthony Francis Fernandes. We have not forgotten other industry partners who work closely with us in higher education innovation, such as the Holstein Milk Company, Sime Darby, Malayan Flour Mills Bhd, and Open Learning Sdn Bhd and many others.
Let us all pray that UPM will continue to succeed and to excel to higher level through the blessings of the Almighty.
Let us not forget those who have left us- our colleagues, friends and family members of UPM who have contributed in making UPM the best. Al Fatihah to them and may they be placed amongst the righteous for all the good deeds that they have done. InshaAllah.
2017 has come to a successful end and there are too many things to be grateful for. May the year 2018 encourages and motivates us to give our best in order to achieve greater success and excellence for our beloved university.
I pray that all UPM community, our families and friends, be granted with prosperity and happiness, good health, mental and physical strength, for us to continue to serve with knowledge, for all of us, families, community and nation, in line with concept of Ihsan. I also seek your forgiveness for any shortcomings, while performing my duties for UPM and the nation.
Pergi ke pekan mencari serai,
Serai dibeli dari tanjung;
2017 kini melabuh tirai,
Komitmen semua amat disanjung.Happy New Year 2018.
Thank you.
PROF. DATIN PADUKA DATO’ DR. AINI IDERIS, FASc .
DSIS, DPMK, PSK, KMN
