2016 May intake orientation

It was an exciting week as UTAR welcomed more than 1,200 new students of the 2016 May Intake during Orientation which commenced on 22 May 2016 at both UTAR Kampar and Sungai Long Campuses. The Orientation for the new students will continue until 18 June 2016. The Orientation programme is intended for the new students so that they will be familiar with the campus, the university staff, and the Kampar and Sungai Long community as they begin their journey as university students.

Students taking an oath during the mass call at the Dewan Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik

At the mass call held during Orientation, UTAR President Ir Prof Academician Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik welcomed the new students and inspired them to be hardworking and focused in their studies. He encouraged the new students to master the English language by communicating with it more often while on campus in order to get ready for their future workplace where English would be predominantly used. Apart from that, Prof Chuah also advised them to forget about their past glories achieved in school examinations.

“It’s nice to score straight A’s in SPM and STPM, but put them in your curriculum vitae and focus all your efforts to score well and graduate with good grades from university. There’s a big difference between the public exam system and the university exam system. In university, the weightage of grades will come in every paper and every semester. You must adapt quickly to the university exam system and work hard to sustain a good CGPA.”

Prof Chuah addressing the new students

He added, “Besides performing academically, you students should participate in extracurricular activities organised by student clubs and societies in order to lead a balanced academic life. Hard work, determination, full concentration, and self-discipline are key secrets to obtaining a university degree.”

Prof Chuah also reminded the new students to embrace the six UTAR philosophical values of Virtue and Morality, Knowledge and Intellect, Physical and Mental Health, Sociality and Humanitarianism, Aesthetics and Harmony, and Creativity and Innovation. He advised the new students to be ethical, professional, involved in sports, sociable, active in building their human network, creative, and innovative in order to gain a complete university experience.

During Orientation, the students were briefed on university policies, rules, procedures, and personal safety. Information on financial assistance including PTPTN loans was also explained. Various briefings on the university’s facilities, curricula, clubs and societies, events, and others were also held.

Among the activities in the Orientation programme were a city tour, a new village tour, several ice-breaking and tele-match activities, a blood donation and healthy lifestyle campaign, a community service project and various talks on adjusting to campus life, study skills, soft skills and careers.

Foundation in Arts student Nyvea Tan Hueyyi said, “I chose UTAR because the university is well known and its courses are recognised by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency. Besides that, the fees are affordable and my parents are able to support my education in UTAR.”

“I got to know about UTAR from a friend of mine who is currently studying in UTAR. I heard a lot of good comments about UTAR and its education system. Hence, I chose UTAR as the destination for my tertiary education. I hope to adapt to the new environment and make new friends,” said J. Thenagaran who hails from Ipoh.

“UTAR is an awesome place for learning and self-development. My goal is to start my own corporate company and I personally think that UTAR is a good choice to pursue my tertiary education,” said Elisya Maliha Yuan Li Bt Mohommad Zain from Foundation in Arts.

Soon Wei Kang, enrolled in Foundation in Science, said, “I wish to become an engineer and I believe that UTAR is the best place for me to pursue my dreams. Graduates from UTAR have high employability, which will aid me in finding career opportunities in future.”

Ice breaking session in Sungai Long Campus

Dance performance by the UTAR Sungai Long Dance Club