Guests and UTAR Student Representative Council (SRC) members at the cake cutting ceremony
UTAR commemorated its 15th anniversary at the UTAR Sungai Long Campus on 10 August 2017, with the theme ‘Building Hopes and Realising Dreams for a Better Tomorrow’.
Present at the 15th Anniversary celebration were Guest of Honour Minister of Transport and Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) President Dato’ Sri Liow Tiong Lai, UTAR Chancellor Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik, UTAR Council member Dato’ Seri Ong Ka Chuan, MCA Youth Chairman Senator Datuk Chong Sin Woon, UTAR Board of Trustees Chairman Tan Sri Dato’ Dr Sak Cheng Lum, UTAR Council Chairman Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Ting Chew Peh, Senator Dato’ Dr Hou Kok Chung and UTAR President Ir Prof Academician Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik.
The celebration started with the seasons drum and Chinese orchestra performance by the current UTAR students who showed great passion and commitment towards performing arts. A group of Engineering students who designed and constructed the Number 15 at the entrance of the Sungai Long Campus also showcased a drone performance in prelude to the video presentation of the 15th anniversary celebration.
Students performing the lion dance and the SRC members lining up at the main entrance to welcome the guests
From left: The lions greeting Dato’ Sri Liow, Prof Chuah and Tan Sri Ting
UTAR students enthralling the audience with their seasons drum performance
Drone performance by UTAR Engineering students
Prof Chuah said, “As we celebrate UTAR’s 15th anniversary, it is not only to share the university’s milestone achievement, but also to pay tribute to all believers and contributors who have made all this possible for the university. We are thankful to the believers, donors, and the MCA for their aspirations and passion for education that have led to the establishment of today’s UTAR. Together with a team of believers, Tun Ling who set up UTAR through his vision foresaw the educational needs of the country, then transformed his dream into reality which is now a leading private university providing affordable quality education for everyone.”
He added, “UTAR is now a reputable university with about 26,000 students enrolled, over 50,000 graduates, more than 110 academic programmes offered, and 29 research centres. UTAR has accomplished a number of milestone achievements since we last celebrated our 10th anniversary in 2012 as teaching and research excellence are what we strive for. In 2013, UTAR obtained Tier 5, categorised as Excellent status, in the Rating System for Malaysian Higher Education Institutions (SETARA) 2013. In 2015, UTAR consolidated its Klang Valley campuses to its own Sungai Long Campus. In March 2017, UTAR was awarded self-accreditation status by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency, an award by invitation and truly an honour for UTAR. Also in March 2017, UTAR received its first rankings of top 120 by the Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings 2017, top 150 in the Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2017, and ranked =14 in the Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2017 in the Millennial universities category.”
Prof Chuah expressing his gratitude to all the founders, donors, believers, supporters, staff and alumni for their contributions in the last 15 years
In his speech, Tun Ling shared stories of the university's inception and paid tributes to all who have contributed to its establishment. The Chancellor enthused, “UTAR is built by public donation. We cherish the contributions and support from the community and many individuals. Regardless of their status, those philanthropists and benefactors including hawkers, taxi drivers, and businessmen, have contributed and paved the way for UTAR’s existence.”
He also emphasised on some of the university’s upcoming plans. “UTAR’s aspiration for the future includes a hospital in Kampar that will serve the local and nearby communities with support from its Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. In ensuring more achievements to come, we need to continue the momentum of passion and commitment by all the members of UTAR as well as the community and many other parties, so that we can realise even bigger and better dreams in the following years to come,” said Tun Ling.
Tun Ling sharing moving stories on the establishment of UTAR
Dato’ Sri Liow said, “UTAR has created a nurturing environment conducive enough to stimulate the students' quest for knowledge, as well as grooming them to be outstanding individuals who will proceed to make contributions in every segment of the society. A university must not only educate its students to serve the society and country, but also to enable the world to become a better place to live in.” He also encouraged the students, “Appreciate and learn along the journey throughout your university education as it will improve your prospect of career progression and life. Do not stop learning even when you leave this university. Be hungry to learn in every stage of your life and use your good education in UTAR to be responsible in society.”
The Guest of Honour continued, “The MCA will continue to support UTAR for the provision of quality and affordable higher education. We will support UTAR in contributing towards the community and nation in the provision of quality education for our youths to meet the human resource needs of the country. We will also provide our best efforts to support UTAR and its initiatives especially towards the setup of the UTAR hospital in Kampar. I hope UTAR will continue to grow to become a great university to be at par with the best, not only in this country but also in the region and the world.”
Dato’ Sri Liow expressing his support towards UTAR’s initiatives and future plans
The 15th anniversary celebration was followed by the presentation of the list of donors and a diabolo performance by a Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science student Soon Yong Wei. Besides, Civil Engineering undergraduate Lim De Sheng who also teaches Chinese calligraphy in the Chinese Language Society demonstrated his calligraphy skills by brushing “志学之年再创高峰”on his painting and presented the calligraphy work to UTAR in celebration of its 15th anniversary. The celebration ended with a cake-cutting ceremony. The cake was a replica of the KA Block of the UTAR Sungai Long Campus.
Soon playing the Chinese yo-yo, diabolo
From left: Datuk Chong, Dato’ Hou, Toh Puan Ling, Prof Chuah, Lim, Dato’ Sri Liow, Tun Ling, Tan Sri Ting and Tan Sri Sak with the calligraphy work
The 20kg cake is a replica of the UTAR KA Block
UTAR 15th anniversary celebration also saw the presence of Toh Puan Ena Ling, former UTAR President Tan Sri Datuk Seri Dr Ng Lay Swee, Wife of the late Datuk Leong Tang Chong Datin Kok Yew Shong, MCA Wanita Chief Datuk Heng Seai Kie, MCA Vice President Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun, Tan Sri Hew See Tong and UTAR Council Member Hew Fen Yee, Endowed Chair Donor Datuk Tan Kim Leong, Building Management Association of Malaysia (BMAM) President Tan Sri Dato’ Teo Chiang Kok, Brunsfield Intl Group Managing Director Tan Sri Dato’ Dr Ir Gan Thian Leong, The Society of Logisticians Malaysia (LogM) President Major Chang Kah Loon, SHL Consolidated Bhd Executive Director Dato’ Sri Yap Chong Lee, Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (TAR UC) President Datuk Tan Chik Heok, UTAR Vice Presidents Prof Ir Dr Ewe Hong Tat and Prof Ir Dr Lee Sze Wei, honourable members of UTAR Board of Trustees, UTAR Council and International Advisory Council, as well as guests from MCA, donors and partners.
Learn more about UTAR 15th anniversary celebration here.
All the guests and the audience wishing UTAR “Happy 15th anniversary”
The student performers actively participated in the preparation of the university’s 15th anniversary celebration
From left: UTAR Alumni Association Vice President Nurul Izwazi Mohd Nor,UTAR Alumni Association President Koh Fook Huat, Department of Alumni Relations and Placement Head Foo Wai Wai, Department of Soft Skills Competency (Sungai Long Campus) Head cum Alumni Association Council Member Fook Oi Yee, and UTAR Alumni Association Auditor Ng Yi Ming
The UTAR 15th anniversary celebration working committee, student helpers and performers
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