As part of the Orientation programme for January 2019 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 Campuses on 8 and 9 January 2019 respectively. The mass call was conducted for new students to meet the University President, the senior officials as well as the deans and deputy deans.
Prof Chuah welcoming the new students
Delivering his welcome address at the mass call, UTAR President Ir Prof Academician Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik warmly welcomed all the freshmen and introduced UTAR as a place full of opportunities with wide range of programmes which will not only enrich their lives as undergraduates, but also provide them with valuable life experiences.
At the beginning of his speech, Prof Chuah emphasised on the importance of English and urged the new students to master the language by communicating it more often on campus in order to prepare themselves for their future workplace where English use predominates.
He also advised the students to not let achievements in secondary school make them feel overconfident. “It’s nice to score straight A’s in SPM and STPM, but put them in your curriculum vitae and dedicate all your efforts into graduating with good grades from the university. There’s a big difference between the public examination system and a university examination system. In university, the weightage of grades will come from every paper and every trimester. Work smart from the beginning of the semester. University is a learning environment in which students must take responsibility for thinking and applying what you have learned. School students are informed that university life is exciting and entertaining; students are also informed that university life is demanding and stressful. In order to adapt to the transition, students must understand and recognise the different teaching styles, testing and grading.” He added, “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.
“Besides performing well academically, you should also 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.”
New students taking an oath during the mass call in Sungai Long Campus
During the meet, Prof Chuah also exhorted 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 be innovative in order to gain a complete university experience.
The President also encouraged the freshmen to pick up new skills such as complex problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, people management, coordination with others, emotional intelligence, keen judgment and decision making, negotiation and cognitive flexibility.
New students taking an oath during the mass call in Kampar Campus
SRC Vice Chairperson 2018/2019 Phoo Jing Yin advised the freshmen to not easily give up on their studies no matter how hard it is. She added, “Your success is determined by what you are willing to sacrifice for it. As you go through life and work toward your dreams, knowing who you are and whom you aspire to be will remain the keys to your success. Therefore, stay motivated and work hard to be the person that you are inspired to be.” She also advised the new students to be active in extracurricular and soft skills activities in order for them to lead a balanced life and equip with right skills.
Photo
courtesy from Editorial Team Orientation January 2019
Phoo advising the freshmen to be independent
Loh advising the freshmen in Kampar to adapt to changes
Meanwhile, Student Representative Council (SRC) Kampar Campus 2018/2019 Chairperson Loh Jia Hui congratulated the new students and advised, “Studying in university is not as easy as you think, yet university is a place where it will give you a lot of memories to cherish for the rest of your life. There are three important things that I would like to share with you all today. Firstly, try to master the English language. Try to communicate with your course mates, housemates and with your lecturers in English more often in order to get ready for the workforce. Secondly, make friends as many as possible. Try to expand your social network and don’t be shy to make friends. And last but not least, make changes and get yourself out of your comfort zone. Be active and join in more extracurricular and soft skills activities organised by students’ club and societies. Please bear in mind, good time management and good friends would definitely give you an enjoyable university life. Good luck and all the best.”
Also present at the mass call were Dean of Faculty of Science Assoc Prof Dr Lim Tuck Meng, Dean of Faculty of Arts and Social Science Dr Lee Lai Meng, Dean of Faculty of Business and Finance Dr Au Yong Hui Nee, Dean of Faculty of Information and Communication Technology Assoc Prof Ts Dr Liew Soung Yue, Dean of Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science Prof Ir Dr Goi Bok Min, Dean of Faculty of Accountancy and Management Dr Sia Bee Chuan, Dean of Faculty of Creative Industries Dr David Tneh Cheng Eng, Deputy Dean for Student Development and Industrial Training of Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Prof Dr Alan Ong Han Kiat, Deputy Dean for Student Development and Industrial Training Dr Tan Kok Tat, Deputy Dean for Academic Development and Undergraduate Programmes Assoc Prof Dr Wong Wun Bin, Director of Centre for Foundation Studies (Kampar Campus) Tan Lee Siew and Director of Centre for Foundation Studies (Sungai Long Campus) Melissa Stefanie Netto, Mass Call Manager (Kampar Campus) Loh Jing Lin and Mass Call Manager (Sungai Long Campus) Yet You Khang.
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