UTAR President welcomes freshmen

As part of the Orientation programme for May 2018 intake, UTAR Department of Student Affairs (DSA) and UTAR Kampar Campus Registration, Campus Tour and Mass Call (RCM) Committee successfully organised a mass call at both Sungai Long and Kampar Campus on 23 and 24 May 2018 respectively. The mass call was conducted for new students to meet the University President and the senior officials as well as the deans and deputy deans.

Graced by UTAR President Ir Prof Academician Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik, the mass call was attended by more than 2,000 students from both campuses.

New students during the mass call at Sungai Long Campus

Freshmen at Kampar Campus taking the oath during the mass call 

Delivering his welcome speech at the mass call, Prof Chuah welcomed the new students and motivated them to be determined and be focused on obtaining the degree. He encouraged the new students to acquire and master the English language. He said, “English is an international language and is dominant in the field of business, social science, science, engineering and medicine. Try to communicate in English more often while on campus in order to get ready for your future workplace where English would be mainly used.”

Prof Chuah motivating the new students to be goal-oriented

Besides that, Prof Chuah also emphasised the importance of human networking and extracurricular activities. He enthused, “Besides performing academically, students should participate in extracurricular activities organised by student clubs and societies in order to lead a balanced academic life. Do take the opportunity to build your network with your seniors, lecturers and students from other institutions as well as from other countries to experience a wide array of opportunities. Hard work, strong determination, full concentration and self-discipline are the key secrets to earn a successful university experience.” He also urged the new students to set goals and aim high. He said, “Aiming high is always a good start. Aim high, work hard and achieve your goals. Goals can only be reached through a proper plan, in which you must passionately believe, and upon which you must enthusiastically act.”

He further advised, “The fairest thing in this world is everyone has the same 24 hours a day, not a second more or less. You must manage your time properly.” He also encouraged the students to gain global exposures by joining University programmes such as study tour, cultural exchange and credit-transfer programme.

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, sociable, active in building their human network, creative, be involved in sports and innovative in order to gain a complete university experience.

Yap advising the freshmen to be independent 

Meanwhile, SRC Kampar Campus 2017/2018 Chairperson Yap Wah Seng advised the new students and quoted Albert Einstein, saying, “Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change. As a new start, students need to learn to adapt to new environment, culture and system. Adapting to life at university can be challenging. Students need to learn to work independently, usually with much less structure than you may be used to. Therefore, you must adapt quickly to the university system and effectively manage all aspects of your life to cope with your new life.”

Quek encouraging the new students to tackle new skills

On the other hand, SRC Sungai Long Campus Auditor Quek Jian Xian also shared the three key principles he learnt from his four-year study life in UTAR with new students. He said, “Firstly, secondary school is not the same as the university. In secondary school, you have a full year to finish your syllabus and you have the opportunity to go for additional revisions and tuition classes to improve yourself. However, in university, your subjects are divided into three trimesters per year and you have to sit for an examination at the end of each trimester. There is a difference between university and school systems. Try to understand the system and move forward.”

He added, “As a university student, you are given an opportunity to be independent, to make your own choices and decisions. You are given a full freedom to live your life the way you want, yet at the same time you are responsible to uphold the good values in your daily lives to avoid unnecessary problems.” He also urged the students to deepen their knowledge, tackle new skills and constantly refine their abilities.

Also present at the mass call were UTAR Vice President for Student Development and Alumni Relations Prof Dr Choong Chee Keong, Dean of Faculty of Science Dr Lim Tuck Meng, Dean of Faculty of Arts and Social Science Dr Alia Azalea, Dean of Faculty of Business and Finance Dr Au Yong Hui Nee, Dean of Faculty of Accountancy and Management Dr Sia Bee Chuan, Dean of Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science Prof Ir Dr Goi Bok Min, Dean for Faculty of Creative Industries Dr David Tneh Cheng Eng, Deputy Dean for Student Development and Industrial Training of Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology Dr Tan Kok Tat, Deputy Dean for Student Development and Industrial Training of Institute of Chinese Studies Dr Ling Liong Ngo, Deputy Dean for Student Development and Industrial Training of Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Prof Dr Alan Ong Han Kiat, Head of Computer Science Department of Faculty of Information and Communication Technology Dr Ooi Boon Yaik, Director of Centre for Foundation Studies (Kampar Campus) Tan Lee Siew and Deputy Director of Student Affairs and Development of Centre for Foundation Studies (Sungai Long Campus) Pua Gaik Hong.

Courtesy Pix from Lai See How, Lim Chia Shing and Yap Jin Yong

The Kampar Campus RCM Committee members