Three faculties from UTAR Sungai Long organised
celebratory activities for graduates of the August 2021 Convocation. The
faculties include Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science,
Faculty
of Creative Industries and Faculty of Accountancy and Management. The
activities, which were conducted online, were participated by respective
faculty dean, deputy deans, heads of departments (HODs), academics, staff
and graduates.
Faculty of Accountancy and Management
The Faculty of Accountancy and Management (FAM) Dean Dr
Sia Bee Chuan congratulated all graduates, “I would like to thank all the
distinguished speakers for their time and effort in sharing your experiences
and knowledge to our students who are embarking on their career. We wish all
the graduates all the best. We hope you will continue to stay encouraged, be
resilient and find greater strength to overcome any challenges ahead until
you accomplish your goals.”
The Department of Economics organised a webinar titled
“What’s next after graduation? Interview and Career Tips” by Prudential
Services Asia Regional Assistant Director for the Groupwide Internal Audit
Groupwide Internal Audit Gurrubren Palany Yapan on 7 August 2021 to equip
students and graduates with some guidance on how to approach the next step
of their lives after graduation. Gurrubren shared his humble beginning, his
career journey and advised, “Be passionate in your work and do not be afraid
in taking different routes. Grab the opportunities that come in your way.
Being a leader is about developing the whole team instead of focusing on the
leader itself.”
In the webinar, Gurrubren shared his views on how to
prepare a curriculum vitae (CV) and resume, as well as attending interviews.
“Keep your CV and resume short and precise. Remember to include relevant
working experience and information that are relevant to the job applied.
Graduates should do some background search on the job applied before
preparing the CV and resume as well as the interview sessions. It is
important to do a background study on the company and the interviewer so
that you will be able to show your strength that best fit the job.”
P.Y Gurrubren (left) and moderator Dr Liew Ping Xin
In the Q&A session, Gurrubren addressed on topics such
as career prospects for International Business and Economics graduates, tips
to improve employability for an introvert person or person with low
self-confidence, and the importance of participating in soft skills
programme and extra-curricular activities in universities. Gurrubren added,
“All the courses and programmes in the universities are useful and encourage
students to think out of the box when it comes to exploring job
opportunities, such as openings from the United Nation for Economics
graduates. Introverts might not be outstanding or noticeable but they can
play the role of sole contributors and still contribute significantly to the
companies. The decision to hire is based on how well the candidate could
tell his/her stories which demonstrate how well their skills fit the
requirements and needs of the position that he/she is applying.”
Head of Department of Economics Sia Bik Kai (top row,
far left) and Gurrubren (third row, second from right) with the participants
The MBA Webinar Series 2 was held on 7 August 2021. It
featured three speakers from BoardRoom. BoardRoom Malaysia Chief Executive
Officer Samantha Tai Yit Chan presented on “Skills and Talent the Industry
is Searching For” where she shared her work-related experiences locally and
internationally.
Chan (top row, middle) and Chong (bottom row, middle)
with the participants
In her session, Samantha Tai spoke about roles and
responsibilities of a company secretary, training programmes, BoardRoom’s
suite of integrated services, BoardRoom’s work culture and other related
topics. “Put your technical knowledge into practice. Have the attitude of
never stop learning and you will gain a lot of skills and knowledge as you
work. Being proactive at work is also important because you get to learn
more things. Joining the Toastmasters gives you the opportunity and
encouragement to be able to speak up your opinions and upskill yourself,”
shared Samantha Tai.
Boardroom Corporate Services Sdn Bhd Senior Manager
Chan Eoi Leng spoke about the “Challenges of Corporate Governance during
Pandemic.” In her presentation, she focused on her work experience, duties
and responsibilities of directors, corporate governance and other related
topics. “You have to choose a right secretarial firm which provides good
opportunity, exposure, knowledge and experience. Take the challenges as
opportunity to learn, find solutions, and at the same time, to upskill
yourself along the way,” advised Chan.
She said, “Corporate governance includes the processes
through which corporations’ objectives are set and pursued in the context of
the social, regulatory and market environment. Corporate governance
practices can be seen as attempts to align the interests of stakeholders.
This involves a mindset and culture change of moving away from a
box-thinking approach to corporate governance. Stakeholder’s confidence can
only be strengthened if the companies think seriously about the reasons for
their existence and how they deliver their purpose.”
Boardroom Corporate Service Sdn Bhd Manager Corporate
Secretarial Chong Kwai Yoong who graduated from UTAR’s MBA (Corporate
Governance) shared her experience. “It is not easy to study while working as
I need to balance my work commitment and the study.
The flexibility of courses and time
is suitable for working adults and UTAR’s lecturers are knowledgeable as
they instil skills and strategies in dealing with situation in the market.
Upon graduation, the students are able to adapt to the industry’s needs
easily as they are equipped with knowledge and skills.”
FAM Deputy Dean for R&D and Postgraduate Programmes Dr
Pok Wei Fong and Samantha Tai (right) during the webinar
Lim during the Q&A session
The Centre for Entrepreneurial Sustainability (CENTS)
and FAM jointly organised a webinar titled “Cultural Diversity and
Communication in Organisations” on 13 August 2021. Speaking at the webinar
was TDCX Group Chief Human Resources Officer-cum-Executive Vice President
Lim Chee Gay who spoke about culture and communication, cultural diversity
in organisations, and recruitment. In the webinar, Lim also shared his
experience of working in Intel, Astro, T Systems, Samsung and AIA as well as
TDCX and how cultural diversity and communication are applied in workplace.
Lim gave an overview about TDCX and the work culture in
Malaysia. “TDCX Malaysia started in 2001 with 3,600 talents. It has a
diverse and multi-cultural work environment with 52 per cent of expat
workforce. Our top clients are global internet leaders, global electronics
companies, world-class airlines, global exports companies, global vacation
rental companies, largest food and beverage companies, luxury vehicles
companies and global coffee companies.”
Lim explained diversity, inclusion and belonging in
workplace. “Cultural diversity is more towards the country and
nationalities. Diversity is everything that makes you unique and it is
important to embrace the uniqueness of everyone. Inclusion is about the act
of creating fairness in different aspects, such as promotion, fair hiring
practices and having equal opportunity. It is important to listen to
employees to learn from each other and be better each day. Belonging is when
a human needs to belong in their unique way. Diversity is about inviting
everyone to the party, Inclusion is about inviting them to the dancefloor
and belonging is about allowing them to dance whatever they would like to.”
He added, “It is important to learn and experience
different cultures and explore diversity in order to know how to manage your
team with diverse backgrounds. Working in a global company will give you the
advantage to be exposed to different people from different backgrounds at
different situations. Thus, you will eventually learn the differences and
strategies at workplace and upskill yourself to become a better you.
Continue to sharpen your strategy and exposure if you want to hold a high
position in a company. Always think you’re not the best, keep learning and
you will be there. Be humble and you will get to your goal.”
Natashah Murad (right) congratulating the graduates
The Department of Accountancy had a pre-convocation
celebration on 13 August 2021 with their theme ‘Onward and Beyond’. Invited
to share her experience was AmBank Group Sr Talent Acquisition Specialist
Natashah Murad. She has been with AmBank since 2013. She is currently
managing the employer branding and campus engagement activities. She aims to
create a strong connection between employers and candidate while creating a
clear path for young talents to have exceptional chance to reach their
future career goals. In her sharing session, she gave an overview of AmBank,
advice on landing a job, future employment trends, AmGraduate programme,
skills for management programme and other related topics.
“I see all of you here as our future leaders and for
that I would like to congratulate all graduates. There are a lot of
opportunities for all of you out there. To accomplish great things, we must
not only act, but also dream; not only plan but also believe. In order for
you to accomplish something, you need to have a dream or goal and then only
you can plan to achieve towards the goal. When you plan your career, you
need to understand and know your value; learn to know yourself and identify
your skills to get the dream job that you want. Find out the career options
that fit you and search for job opportunities. At any job, you need to have
creativity and think out of the box because you will face different
challenges in different situations,” shared Natashah.
She added, “It is also important to study the market
trends, the nation’s economy status and find out the opportunities that are
out there. During the global pandemic, some of you may experience that
searching for a job may seem like searching for a needle in a haystack. Even
so, you can create your next opportunity. Don’t wait for the economy to get
better as we do not know how long the pandemic will last. People need to
change and adapt to the present situation. Give yourself time to be mentally
prepared to know what you are looking for and what is best for you. Review
your skill sets and continue to improve yourself.”
Group photo session
Sr Au Yong and Sr Siew during the Q&A session
The Department of Building and Property Management
organised a “Pre-Convo E-Mamak session with alumni and industry experts:
Planning your life after graduation” on 20 August 2021 where industry
experts shared their success stories, challenges and experiences in the area
of valuation, property management and estate agent to the graduates. Invited
speakers were Asiacap Valuers & Property Consultants Sdn Bhd Managing
Director Sr Au Yong Kit and HSR Realtors (M) Sdn Bhd Principal &
Advisor-cum-HSR Property Management Principal & Managing Director Sr Siew
Yee Hong.
Sr Au Yong said, “If you like what you do, it will
never go wrong and it will be more rewarding at the end of the day. Along
the way, you may face some challenges and after solving it, you will get the
fulfilment from the task that you have completed. Having passion in what you
do is very important because you will find solutions to solve the challenges
you have faced. Having good attitude and being proactive at work will lead
you to a better position in the company. Academic qualification is only one
part of you being accepted in a company, another important part is how you
present value to the company. That is equally important.”
Sr Siew said, “The industry is really short of good
building managers. Making money and having passion are equally important in
your job, thus you need to balance them. With success and recognition, you
will move further and higher. It is important to work your way up towards
the self-actualisation according to the Maslow Hierarchy of Needs. Be
patient when you deal with people and listen to their problems before
providing the solution; this is a better way of solving issues.”
Alumni Cheah Ning said, “What I learnt from UTAR is
totally relevant to the working environment, but we need to adapt to the
ever-changing situations at work and learn practicality. Be confident during
the interview and have an interesting cover letter in order to differentiate
yourself from the rest to increase the probability of landing the job you
want.”
Alumni Leong Chee Yuan said, “As a property manager,
you need to be comprehensive in all areas, such as language, managing
people, technical skills, electrical skills, etc. It is important to adapt
fast in the given situation. Be humble and be willing to learn to be better
at your job.”
Dr Sia (bottom row, far left), Sr Siew (bottom row,
middle) and Sr Au Yong (top row, middle) with the alumni and FAM staff
Faculty of Creative Industries (FCI)
The virtual celebration was full of laughter and
nothing but wet eyes
The Faculty of Creative Industries (FCI) also held a
virtual celebration with graduands alongside the staff and faculty members
to recognise the achievement of graduands and to appreciate all the hard
work they had put into studying.
The Department of Media Head Anthony Gandolfo Miranti
Jr shared some encouraging words to the media and broadcasting graduates
during the virtual celebration which was held on 22 August 2021. “You are in
the department of creative industries. You have some of the most valuable
skill sets at uncertain times, which are the ability to adapt, the ability
to look at things from different perspectives and the ability to come up
with solutions to problems. This is where your creativity actually has
value. Find a way to apply what you know and ask questions so you can figure
out what you need to know. I want you to know that the other lecturers and I
are proud of you for coming this far, where you have been educated and we’re
looking forward to seeing how you will use it as we know you're going to be
a part of the solutions to the scary times that we’re living in now. We’re
happy to be here to help you whenever we can.”
One of the graduate Tan Wei Ren, who completed his
study on Bachelor of Communication (Honours) Broadcasting, said he was not
currently working as a broadcaster but he still applied some of the things
he learned in the classes such as time management, visual sensitivity, and
communication skills. He expressed his deep gratitude to everyone who helped
him throughout his journey.
Besides, the Department of Mass Communication and the
Department of Multimedia Design & Animation also held a virtual celebration
of graduation on 20 and 21 August 2021 respectively with a few pieces of
advice for their beloved graduates to create memorable moments for this
special time. A pre-recorded video was also prepared by the Department of
Early Childhood Studies to congratulate the accomplishment of the graduates.
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Not only did the lecturers share their special
congratulatory words to the graduates, but the graduates also expressed
their appreciation to their beloved lecturers
Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science (LKC
FES)
Nine departments from LKC FES hosted a
homecoming e-gathering for graduates via Microsoft Teams on 21 August 2021.
The nine departments were Department of Architecture and Sustainable Design
(DASD), Department of Chemical Engineering (DCL), Department of Civil
Engineering (DCI), Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
(D3E), Department of Internet Engineering and Computer Science (DIECS),
Department of Mathematical and Actuarial Sciences (DMAS), Department of
Mechanical and Material Engineering (DMME), Department of Mechatronics and
Biomedical Engineering (DMBE) and Department of Surveying (DS).
Prof Goi congratulating graduates on their
achievements
LKC FES Dean Ir Prof Dr Goi Bok Min said,
“Dear UTARians, your convocation is a proud occasion for all of us to
celebrate. I hope your accomplishment in UTAR will give you the
encouragement to excel even further and achieve greater success in the years
ahead. On behalf of LKC FES, I wish you all a successful career and peace
and happiness in life.”
LKC FES Deputy Dean for
Academic Development and Undergraduate Programmes Assoc Prof Ir Dr Gobi
Vetharatnam said, “Congratulations!
We are proud of your achievement today. Continue to achieve more
success in the coming year. Well done UTAR graduates!”
LKC FES Deputy Dean for
Student Development and Industrial Training Assoc Prof Ts Dr Lee Kim Yee
said, “Congratulations on your graduation. Even though this year’s
graduation may look different, the achievement is still the same. Hope that
this will be a memorable moment in your life.”
LKC FES Deputy Dean for R&D and Postgraduate
Programmes Ts Dr Yap Wun She enthused, “Congratulations! You have finally
made it. We are proud of you. Now you may go out and create your own life
and be successful in the future.”
HODs of LKC FES congratulating graduates
Congratulatory messages from Head of
Programmes
Lecturers delivering their heartfelt congratulations to the graduates
DS, DIECS and D3E also received motivational
messages from Industrial Academic Panel (IAP) and industry partners. Present
to deliver the motivational messages were Co-Founder-cum-CEO of RunCloud Sdn
Bhd Arif Tukiman, CEO of Alnair Labs Corporation Dr Goh Chee Seong and UTAR
alumnus-cum-Katahira & Engineers International Contracts Manager Ng Ming
Hui.
Arif Tukiman delivering his motivational
message
Arif congratulated the graduates and said,
“Despite the pandemic, we are at the new norm stage, but this shouldn’t stop
you or me or the rest of us in achieving what we want. There’s always plenty
of opportunities out there for you after you graduate. Remember to always
pour your spirit into learning new things; always remember that success is
not the destination for you but it is a journey. Stay positive, stay ahead
and don’t lose yourself in problems but try to be a problem-solver.”
Dr Goh joining the homecoming e-gathering for
graduates from Tokyo, Japan
Dr Goh shared his experience of being an
industry practitioner. Congratulating the graduates, he said, “Do whatever
you think is good for you, work hard and you will get what you want. Don’t
give up, the beginning is always the hardest but always remember, life
rewards those who always work hard at it.” He then continued his
presentation on “Introducing Alnair Labs Corporation and its career
opportunities”, “Advantages of studying in Japan and its opportunities”,
“Research collaboration with UTAR” and “Introduction to Japan Graduates
Association of Malaysia (JAGAM)”.
Ng shared his experience of working abroad in
the Philippines
Ng during the Industry-cum-alumni sharing
session
Besides sharing about his experience of
working abroad in the Philippines, Ng also shared about work attitudes
graduates should adopt to be successful in their career; how to find a good
start in career; how to decide between working in home country or abroad;
the differences between working in home country and abroad; and the
challenges of working in overseas.
“I believe many of you are wondering how to
start a QS career so that you can be successful in the future. Some of you
may wonder if you should start your career as a QS consultant or work for
the contractors. There are different advantages to each, however, neither of
it can offer shortcut to you. You need to know that the success of a person
is not determined by how he started but rather on how he performed along his
career path,” Ng advised.
He added, “Based on my observation, humans
tend to seek comfort zone in their world and are often reluctant to find
breakthrough and improvement. Be persistent in improving yourself.
It is one of the most valuable qualities that one must possess to
become successful. Remember your attitude determines your success.”
Ng sharing about work attitudes
The celebration continued with a sharing
session from alumni representatives,
namely Yong
Wei Lun, Leong Xian Jun and Thomas Gan. Another sharing session was carried
out on postgraduate opportunity by DS and experience sharing by DMME.
Besides, the celebration also saw final year project presentation by DASD
graduates.
Sharing his experience as a fresh graduate
stepping into the industry, Yong emphasised on the importance of time
management. He advised that instead of chasing to equip oneself with new
technology skillset, one should focus on the fundamental concept. He
highlighted the importance of algorithms and data structure to score well in
an interview and the importance of effective communication in a workplace
environment.
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Alumni Leong (left) and Thomas Gan (right)
sharing their advises to the graduates
Leong, on the other hand, suggested that
everyone should always give their 100 per cent effort in completing all the
assignments because the more they contribute to an assignment, the more
knowledge they obtain from it.
He also highlighted the importance of learning skills.
He said, “It would be great to make a habit or daily routine that
allows you to gain extra knowledge. Never should we stop learning as this
would disqualify us from this competitive society. However, you should not
be desperate or disappointed with this. You still have plenty of time to
polish your skills; even if you don’t have enough time, it is never too late
to start improving it.”
Thomas Gan highlighted, “You must have the
attitude to “Learn, Unlearn, and Relearn” and this need to be coupled with
individual intelligence. Also, soft skills will help your career hit the big
time. Soft skills deal with your mind-set, character, and how you handle
personal relationships. If you can’t collaborate, solve problems, or
communicate effectively, then developing and learning soft skills will help
you to groom your personality and become a better person.”
Dr Jeffrey Yap shared about postgraduate
opportunities
Following was another sharing session that
focused on postgraduate opportunities. It was delivered by Head of Programme
for Master of Project Management Assoc Prof Ir Ts Dr Jeffrey Yap Boon Hui.
During the session, Dr Jeffrey Yap talked about postgraduate opportunities
and research in the Department of Surveying; why one should do postgraduate
study; why one should take up Master’s in Project Management; options
available in the Department of Surveying; scholarships that are available as
well as his postgraduate journey.
Dr Jeffrey Yap enthused, “Postgraduate study
can be rewarding in its own right and it can also be an investment in your
future. Some of the rewards include increasing your knowledge in a
particular area, gaining a qualification, gaining promotion in your job,
gaining extra skills that could be valuable for your career and increasing
earning potential. It also offers a route to join the academia.”
He added, “By taking up a postgraduate degree,
you can develop beneficial skill that is useful in daily life, such as time
management skill and other skills such as researching skills, presentation
skills and writing skills.”
Speaking of why one should consider taking up
Master’s in Project Management, he said, “The demand for project managers
for the next 10 years will be growing faster than the demand for workers in
other occupations. By 2027, employers will need 87.7 million individuals to
work in project management oriented roles. This simply calls for more job
opening.”
Dr Jeffrey Yap explaining Research Scholarship
Scheme (RSS)
Dr Jeffrey Yap sharing about his postgraduate
journey
Prof Rajkumar advising graduates to reflect on
areas that they can improve
Ir Prof Dr Rajkumar Durairaj, who is currently
the Dean of Academic Quality Assurance and also a lecturer in the Department
of Mechanical and Material Engineering shared his experience by advising
graduates to attend online courses and pick up hobby or volunteering jobs to
enhance their resume while waiting for a specific job. He said, “You may use
this period of time to build your skills and reflect on areas you can
improve. Keep yourself active and build your network in LinkedIn. Also,
learn some tips for a successful interview.”
DSAD brought in graduates to share their
excellent final year projects and inspire fellow graduates and students. The
session saw Architecture graduates Ng Tze Way and Yap Ling sharing their
beautiful and creative projects that were not only a feast to the eyes but
one that also catered to the contemporary issues faced by the community.
Ng showing his FYP project
titled “College in the Forest”
Ng shared his project and enthused, “My
project illustrates a place where people grow knowledge and a place where
human and nature can grow together.”
Yap
showing her FYP project titled “The thinker space”
Yap shared that the intention of her design
was aimed to rejuvenate and revitalise Kampung Periok. “My project aimed to
reconnect Kampung Periok to its surrounding area and remind young generation
of the history of Kelab Sultan Sulaiman,” she said.
Chong (left) and Mercedes Chan congratulating
the graduates
EMB Student Chapter Advisor Chong Yu Zheng
congratulated the graduates and said, “This is our third time having this
e-homecoming gathering. Much appreciation to the committee members who have
set up this event and I hope that everyone will enjoy the great night ahead.
Once again congratulations!” EMB Chairperson Mercedes Chan Simh Peh said,
“Thank you everyone for sparing your time to join this event today. Thank
you to all my committee members who have worked hard to prepare this event.
Congratulations to all the graduates! You have finished your degree and I
wish you the best in everything and I know this success is only one of the
many more to come in the future.”
Chairperson of IChemE Student Chapter Raynold
Dass congratulating graduates for completing their studies
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Some of the IT Society members sending their
congratulatory messages to the graduates
A short duet performance titled “River Flows
In You” was presented by Software Engineering students Lai Wen Khai (left)
and Chong Siow Yen
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