Over 5,000 Graduates To Get Their Scrolls At UMPSA's 19th Convocation Ceremony

KUANTAN, Oct 25 (Bernama) -- A total of 5,115 Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) graduates will receive their degrees and diplomas during the university’s 19th Convocation Ceremony.

The convocation will take place over three days starting tomorrow at the UMPSA Sports Complex Hall in Gambang, near here.

UMPSA vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Yuserrie Zainudin said of the total, 83 graduates would receive their Doctor of Philosophy scrolls, masters (180), bachelor's degrees (2,538), dual degrees (64), diplomas (533) and 1,717 graduates of the UMPSA Advanced lifelong learning programme.

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He said UMPSA’s Pro-Chancellor, the Tengku Mahkota of Pahang, Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Al-Sultan Abdullah would grace and officiate the convocation ceremony.

His Royal Highness will also award Datuk Seri Dr Daing Nasir Ibrahim the title of Professor Emeritus, the highest academic award, for his various contributions to universities and higher education in the country.

"At this convocation ceremony, for the first time, UMPSA and the Kazakh National Agrarian Research University (KazNARU) from Kazakhstan will award Dual Degrees to three graduates," Yuserrie said at a press conference introducing award recipients at UMPSA Gambang here today.

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Meanwhile, Yuserrie said 48,378 graduates in various fields of study at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels had been produced since the UMPSA's first convocation ceremony in 2006, with a graduate employability rate of 97.3 per cent.

Meanwhile, Fatini Nasuha Ahmad Puad, 23, a recipient of the Royal Education Award (Pingat Jaya Cemerlang), said to maintain her momentum as an outstanding graduate, she identified her priorities, especially dividing her time between studies and volunteer activities.

The Bachelor's Degree in Manufacturing Engineering Technology (Pharmaceutical) with honours graduate from the Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology (FTKKP), said growing up in a modest family also motivated her to excel. 

"My father works as an auxiliary policeman while my mother is a housewife and with both being advanced in their age made me determined to study hard and change the family's life," said the youngest of three siblings from Shah Alam, Selangor.

Fatini Nasuha, who obtained a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.88, wants to continue her studies at the Doctor of Philosophy level. She intends to fulfil her dream of becoming a lecturer one day.

Another recipient of the Royal Education Award, Choong Wai Kit, 24, said his mother and sister motivated him to study hard. He wants to repay them for raising him after his father's death.

"My mother worked as a seamstress and was passionate about raising me and my sister alone after our father's passing.

"My sister was also my inspiration as she covered a lot of expenses when I underwent industrial training in Shah Alam," said Choong, a Bachelor’s (Honours) graduate of FTKKP with a CGPA of 3.92.

In addition to excelling in academics, Choong, who hails from Ipoh, Perak, is also active in various activities, including debating. He was the second-best overall debater and runner-up at the 1st Hou Xue Cup National University Debate Competition.

UMPSA's 19th Convocation Ceremony, which begins tomorrow, will continue on Sunday and next Tuesday.

-- BERNAMA