Graduates of March 2021 gathered online with their friends and lecturers to celebrate their convocation through the various fun-filled events organised by respective faculties from 5 to 20 March 2021 via ZOOM and Microsoft Teams (MS Teams).

Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology (FEGT)

The departments of Industrial Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Construction Management, Environmental Engineering and Petrochemical Engineering organised online meet-ups between lecturers and graduates via ZOOM and MS Teams from 5 to 16 March 2021 to learn about the graduates’ latest development, as well as to get their feedback to improve the faculty’s syllabus and learning outlines. FEGT Dean, Deputy Deans and Heads of Departments (HoD) were present to congratulate the graduates and to give words of encouragement and advice.

Representing Department of Industrial Engineering Head Ir Dr Tshai Kim Hoe to present the speech was Master of Engineering Science Head Dr Khoo Sze Wei. “Congratulations on your successful completion of studies. Despite the hard task, sadness and grief encountered, you overcame the odds and completed this journey with great achievement and beautiful memories. Being tough with you was meant to prepare you for the greater challenge ahead and to nurture you in building a strong foundation. Finally, you have attained this milestone with great honour and integrity. We are proud of you. You have left behind a legacy for your juniors,” said Dr Khoo.

Department of Construction Management Head Dr Olanrewaju Abdullateef Ashola also congratulated the graduates and said, “This is the best part of my job because I am able to participate in this joyful moment. This day is about you and your achievements gained through hard work, determination, consistency and creativity. Graduation is a time to imagine your future, and from looking back at the road you have taken, you will gain new perspectives for your future road. We certainly look forward to hearing about your personal and professional achievements and do continue to stay in touch with us. As you begin your new journey, be confident that you can make a difference because you possess the skills, knowledge and competency.” Lecturers of the same department also gave their advice and motivation to the graduates.

Meanwhile, Department of Petrochemical Engineering Head Dr Mathialagan Muniyadi advised graduates to maintain a positive attitude and mindset despite the difficulties of securing a job in this time of the pandemic. He also said the new norm that arose from this pandemic has also enabled everyone to learn new things, and as for students, blended learning is becoming more familiar with new tools for learning online. He encouraged graduates to be brave in overcoming the challenges ahead. The session then proceeded with graduates giving their feedback on the programme. Department of Electronic Engineering Head Assoc Prof Ir Dr Teh Peh Chiong and Department of Environmental Engineering Head Assoc Prof Dr Mohammed J. K. Bashir also congratulated the graduates and advised them to continuously invest in lifelong learning. They also reminded graduates to contribute back to society and help the nation to grow when they have become successful in the future. Graduates also expressed their gratitude to their lecturers for their guidance and advice throughout their years of studies at the university.

Faculty of Information and Communication Technology (FICT)

Kick-starting the celebratory graduation of FICT graduates on 20 March 2021 via ZOOM was FICT Dean Assoc Prof Ts Dr Liew Soung Yue. “Congratulations on your graduation. This marks the end of your studies and the start of a new chapter in your life. I am proud of your achievements and you have made it this far because of your hard work. As you plan for the road ahead, be sure to have a good plan. Realise your strategy and plan early, and be prepared for the unexpected. You may not have all the immediate answers, but do not be afraid of changes. Be adaptable and resilient. Be brave because you are equipped with the knowledge, skills and optimism to face challenges ahead,” said Dr Liew.

He also advised, “When you are looking for support, know that you can lean on your loved ones, as you too give your continuous support to them. Be a role model to those you care and make others successful. As you grow and achieve great things, inspire and help others to grow along the way. Share your experience with them and learn from each other.”

The celebratory event continued with a few sharing sessions from representatives of Huawei. One representative spoke on the industrial prospects of 5G and highlighted the prediction of the experts that said a large portion of operators’ 5G revenues will come from services and enterprise customers. He also shared that 5G B2B promises a large revenue in the ICT field with both opportunities and challenges. Other representatives, who were also FICT alumni shared their reason for accepting Huawei’s job offer and their experience of working and living in the Middle East. They said they were motivated by the opportunities to learn new technology, explore new environment, and gain vast experience, apart from the attractive offer.

On the other hand, Chief Technology Officer and Chief Operating Officer Adriano Tang from DietChain spoke about the “Landscape after Covid-19”. His talk gave a glimpse of the current working environment post-pandemic and the changes it has gone through because of the pandemic. He mentioned that the pandemic has caused many companies, including Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to run their businesses online and that the world is turning into a digital world.

“During the pandemic, many SMEs hurriedly put their business online without a proper digitisation plan. As a result, some of these SMEs failed because they had the wrong strategy. It is important to understand that money comes when you do the right things and not how many things you do. By investing time and effort to develop a proper digitised blueprint, a business can expand correctly. Be mindful that you will be joining an era where you have to live with a pandemic, and the ways of the old are no longer relevant. So how do you stand out? Be flexible and use your skills and knowledge; help your company to adapt to the changes. Adopt new technologies and use creative ideas to help your company seek solutions to overcome the challenges brought by the pandemic,” said Tang.

“Some graduates have also opted to do their own businesses, and I would like to encourage you to continue exploring unique interest that will give worth to yourself and others. Keep improving your skills and never surrender to the challenges of life,” advised Tang.

Apart from advice and encouragement from the industrial speakers, valedictorian Yong Ju Ee also gave a motivational speech. “This day we say our official goodbyes. Though sad, we are still lucky and grateful to FICT for nurturing us with great knowledge and skills. We also thank our parents, families, and friends for their constant support and guidance that has enabled us to come this far. Although there is no physical ceremony, we should not let this pandemic take this special moment from us. We have our skills and knowledge to make us stand out. We have worked hard to get this degree and we should be proud of our achievements. We have gained unique experiences in UTAR, but those moments have also shaped who we are today. Now will be the time for us to put what we have learnt to the test and benefit the world. Undoubtedly, job seeking during the pandemic will be challenging but our resilience will sustain us through that. We may not have all the answers, but we will be at peace. Do not be afraid of changes and make life meaningful,” enthused Yong.

Following suit was the e-scrolling session of all graduates and their heartfelt messages to families and friends.

Faculty of Arts and Social Science (FAS)

FAS organised their celebratory e-convocation “Class of 2021” via Microsoft Teams on 20 March 2021 and it was graced by FAS Dean Dr Lee Lai Meng.

“I would like to congratulate all of you for reaching this major milestone in your life. At this point, some of you might wonder what lies ahead of you now, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic creating havoc in the job market. In spite of this challenge, there are always opportunities to be found. Dear graduates, UTAR has always strived to equip you with as much relevant knowledge and skills as possible so that you can adapt to whatever environment that you might be in. I am sure you will rise to the challenges ahead and not give up. The best real-life education is at the city for when you rise to it, you will realise your true inner strength,” said Dr Lee.

HoDs, namely Department of Advertising Head Kok Hui Meian, Department of Journalism Head Farah Nabila binti Hamdan, Department of Languages & Linguistics Head Siti Ummaizah binti Meor Musa, Department of Public Relations Head Dr S Maartandan Suppiah, and Department of Psychology and Counselling Head Dr Pung Pit Wan also congratulated the graduates and gave valuable pieces of advice. A short video clip titled “Walking Down the Memory Lane” was played and heartfelt messages from graduates were also displayed.

The highlight of the event was the sharing session titled “Five Things to do as You Embark on Your Career” by invited speaker and volunteer career coach of TalentCorp #KisahSiswa and the HRDF Career Coaching programme, Syaza Nazura Noor Azmi. Syaza is also a blogger who writes about personal development.

“When embarking on your career journey, firstly, start early, but also do not be hasty. Some people are lucky and are able to get a job right after university, but some might need to take more time to find a job. My suggestion would be to spend some time to know yourself before you start working. Identify and understand your potential and the contributions you can offer to the company. Talk to people and build connections because these things will help you in securing a job that is suitable for you,” advised Syaza.  

“Secondly, focus on your timeline and set a small goal. Having your own timeline will help you focus better on achieving your goals, and do not be distracted by what others are doing. Thirdly, focus on quality rather than quantity when applying for a job. Do not blindly apply to all the jobs but put some effort to research about the job you are interested in applying,” added Syaza.

She added, “Secondly, you have to focus on your timeline and journey like setting a mini goal. You have your own timeline so don’t focus too much on what other people are doing.” Syaza also advised graduates to stay connected with their alma mater because they can assist graduates in job seeking. She also suggested graduates to speak to a career coach, especially in preparing their resume, as it increases the chances of securing employment.

Ending her talk with another advice, Syaza reminded graduates to be unique and different. “In the many interviews I have attended, I always tell them about my blog because that is a very big part of me. I started blogging when I was in high school and from there it evolved. In your interviews, you want to stand out by being able to catch the attention of the employer. In fact, you have to find your unique selling point and think about the contributions you can offer to the employer. Think about what valuable assets you have that others do not,” advised Syaza.

The session ended with two song performances by Athena Chai singing “Better Place” and “Flashlight”.

Faculty of Science (FSc)

FSc celebrated its e-convo celebration titled “Faculty of Science Celebratory Event – Sharing by Industrial Advisors” on 20 March 2021 via Microsoft Teams. The event aimed to provide graduates with tips for a successful interview, as well as some insights into the job of being an embryologist. 

The online event kick-started with congratulatory messages by HoDs, namely Department of Allied Health Sciences Head Dr Tan Gim Cheong and Department of Biological Science Head Dr Nor Ismaliza binti Mohd Ismail. Pre-recorded congratulatory messages from Department of Agricultural and Food Science Head Dr Ong Mei Kying, Department of Chemical Science Head Dr Lim Boon Hoe and Department of Physical and Mathematical Sciences Head Ts Dr Lam Weng Hoe were also displayed.

Dr Tan said, “I want to take this opportunity to congratulate all the graduates. Currently, we are facing a very challenging time and I believe that this is a time where all of our graduates can contribute their strength and energy to help the country.”

Dr Ismail said, “Congratulations to all graduates, especially those who are under our Department of Biological Science. I believe all of you have gained a lot of experience during your learning period in UTAR. I wish you all the best for your future.”

Apart from congratulating the graduates, Dr Ong reminded the graduates by saying, “It is a time for you to celebrate your success with your family and your loved ones who have been supporting you selflessly and unconditionally throughout your life.”

“A heartfelt congratulations to all of you and I hope you all will be able to utilise what you have planned in your future career. God bless!” said Dr Lim in the pre-recorded video.

At the end of the pre-recorded video, Dr Lam also expressed his heartfelt congratulation to all the graduating class of 2021 by saying, “Congratulations on your graduation and this must be a very proud moment for you. I hope you all continue to strive and never stop learning even after your graduation.”

The online event continued with two webinars by industry advisors. TMC Fertility Centre Senior Embryologist Fam May Chee presented the first topic “Baby Sitter Behind the Scenes in ‘IVF’ Field”.

“The word ‘Test Tube Baby’ inspired me to become an embryologist. I learnt about the tested baby during my undergraduate study and started to search about it on Google. The world’s first baby to be conceived via in vitro fertilization (IVF) was born on 25th July 1978. She is about 43 years old now and has already given birth to two children,” said Fam.

According to Fam, there is no degree for embryologist offered in Malaysia, therefore, the only way to start embryology work is to become a trainee embryologist. “Most companies will require you to sign a few years contract with them to become a trainee which I feel would be difficult for a freshman to decide. The training is usually done by seniors as a kind of in-house training.  Besides, the job of an embryologist is not recognised in Malaysia as there is no license of standard controlled by the government,” said Fam.

As an Embryologist, Fam said that one must have interest in doing research and have good pipetting skills. Besides, the abilities to troubleshoot issues as well as handling quality control inside a lab are important. “To become an Embryologist, one must be attentive and must be able to acknowledge the advancement of technology and always has to do self-improvement. One must also be a logical thinking person with a good attitude and healthy emotional control,” Fam advised.

The second invited speaker was B. Braun Medical Industries Sdn Bhd Senior R&D Manager Dr Tan Aik Aun who presented “Tips for Successful Interview”. As a Senior R&D manager, Dr Tan is responsible to ensure the company’s strategy is implemented right, to translate strategy into a manageable piece of work, prioritise them and find the right person to execute them.

Dr Tan Aik Aun began his sharing session by stressing on the purpose of an interview. He told the graduates that the purpose of an interview session is to filter out all the possible candidates to find the best fit for the job. Therefore, an interviewee should learn how to promote himself and show that he is the one who best fits the job and the company.

Besides that, he also advised the graduates to do some research before attending an interview session. “Before you go for an interview session, please remember to read every single word in the job description, including the company overview, the job summary, responsibilities, knowledge, skills and abilities that required for the job. Take note of your advantage as well as the missing skills and experience. Last but not least, copy the job description into a new document to create your cover letter or message to the company from scratch. Remember, the resume, cover letter and application must be error-free.”

He then added, “Do not oversell yourself or give the impression that you are only interested in the salary. If you want a few seconds to think, you can say ‘That is a great question……’ which doubles as a compliment, and flattering your interviewer helps. You could also consider presenting your final year project.”

Dr Tan Aik Kun also hinted the graduates to follow up their point of contact every Friday as most of the company is free on Friday than other weekdays. He also displayed some commonly asked questions that were very useful for the graduates.

In his closing remark, FSc Dean Assoc Prof Dr Lim Tuck Meng said, “For the graduates, you are one of the 2,606 lucky graduates that have completed their milestone in life. Please remember the six educational pillars of UTAR, namely ‘Virtue and Morality’, ‘Knowledge and Intellect’, ‘Physical and Mental Health’, ‘Sociality and Humanitarianism’, ‘Aesthetics and Harmony’ as well as ‘Creativity and Innovation’. We hope you all will bring up this standard into society and make the world a better living place.”

Faculty of Business and Finance (FBF)

FBF celebrated its e-convo celebration on 19 March 2021 at Microsoft Teams to recognise its students’ accomplishments and success in UTAR.

Present at the online event were FBF Dean Assoc Prof Dr Au Yong Hui Nee, Deputy Dean for R&D and Postgraduate Programmes Dr Choong Yuen Onn, Deputy Dean for Academic Development and Undergraduate Programmes Peter Tan Sin Howe, Deputy Dean for Student Development and Industrial Training Yew King Tak, Department of Marketing Head Choy Johnn Yee, Department of Finance Head Dr Kuah Yoke Chin, Department of Entrepreneurship Head Ng Yin Kuan, Department of Commerce and Accountancy Head Sonia Johanthan, Department of Business Head Dr Tee Chee Wee, Department of Economics Head Thavamalar Ganapathy, MBA (Corporate Management) Programme Head Dr Ng Chee Pung and Postgraduate Programmes Head Dr Leong Lai Ying.

It kick-started with a congratulatory speech and well wishes from Dr Au Yong, followed by pre-recorded congratulatory messages from deputy deans and HoDs.

The highlight of the event was the sharing session by invited speakers and FBF’s industry advisors namely, Operations and Technology Vice President of E2 Power Sdn Bhd/OCBC Alice Lim Bee Leng, Greater China Vice President and General Secretary of Danone Board Member of Danone China Beverage Company and Member of Danone China Strategic Board James Ng Chan Choy, Senior Vice President of Al Rajhi Banking Investment and Cooperation (Malaysia) Berhad Dr Angeline Ng Siew Huan and Executive Director of Fuji Electric (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd Chong Nee Hwa.

The first to share was Lim. She congratulated the graduates and said, “My heartfelt congratulations to each of you for your accomplishments; you have indeed so much to be proud of. This is a defining milestone for each of you. A famous quote by Nelson Mandela says 'May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears', this is my prayer for you all today.”

Ng mentioned, “Your gains from UTAR, no matter networks, friends or even knowledge and skills you have learned will become precious assets that will accompany you in your career journey.”

“Congratulations and enjoy your day. Graduation is a time for celebration, a time for reflection and a time to look ahead. Remember to keep in touch with your lecturers and friends to continue the beautiful relationships as they will be your important assets in the working world,” Dr Ng humorously expressed.

In his speech, Chong shared the challenges faced by the industry during the COVID-19 pandemic and the MCO last year. He also encouraged the graduates to continue to learn, to polish up skills and knowledge and be adaptive in the new era.

Institute of Chinese Studies

ICS organised their celebratory e-convo event via Microsoft Teams on 20 March 2021. Themed ‘Set Sail·Realise Your Dream’, the ICS E-Convo Celebration March 2021 (“启航·圆梦”中华研究院毕业生云典礼) saw the participation of ICS’s March 2021 undergraduates postgraduates, alumni, staff and students from both campuses.

The moderator for the ceremony was ICS Deputy Dean for Student Development and Industrial Training Dr Ling Liong Ngo and the emcee was UTAR Chinese Studies Society Chairperson Ho Sin Ni.

A total of seven ICS postgraduates and 33 ICS undergraduates have graduated with their master’s degree and bachelor’s degree during the e-Convocation ceremony held on 20 March 2021.

The ceremony kicked off with a speech from ICS Dean Assoc Prof Dr Chong Siou Wei. On behalf of ICS, Dr Chong delivered his appreciation to the lecturers and congratulated the graduates. He mentioned, “Due to the pandemic outbreak last year, all the graduates who are graduating this year had to experience online classes in the last few semesters; something special and different in your university life. In addition, your graduation ceremony was also carried out through the cloud, and I believe the cloud ceremony will leave a more special and unforgettable memory for all the graduates.”

“Graduating is not the end of learning; we must continue to learn throughout our lives, so as not to be eliminated by the torrent of the times. As the old Chinese saying goes ‘if you want to see a grand view, you need to climb up to a higher level’ (欲穷千里目，更上一层楼), if you want to achieve your goals in life, or achieve greater success, you need to be positive and motivated and enrich yourself at all time,” he encouraged the graduates.

He expressed his thankfulness and said, “The Department of Chinese Studies has been established for 19 years as one of the earliest departments when the University was founded. We have been running the department with a humble heart and committed to provide students with a good learning environment. As an institution of a not-for-profit private university, ICS has relied on the support of all sectors of society since its establishment. Hence, I would like to take this opportunity to thank people from all walks of life who have given support to the Department of Chinese Studies throughout the years, from being affiliated to the FAS, FCI, to the establishment of ICS.”

“Dear graduates, we always welcome our alumni to come back to their alma mater, to visit the lecturers, to support the University and ICS’s activities, and use their strength to improve the University, ensuring that the University will continue to thrive and benefit more students,” Dr Chong concluded.

The Alumni Association of the Department of Chinese Studies (AADCS) Chairperson Sandra Wong Foong Kiew congratulated the graduates and said, “I believe that your study life in UTAR and ICS will be one of the precious moments in your life because you have gained a lot no matter in terms of academics or life, over the last couple of years. Even after graduation, remember to always keep in touch with your teachers and classmates to continue the beautiful relationship.” Further on, she made a brief introduction on AADCS and the activities held by AADCS. She also took the opportunity to welcome the ICS’s fresh graduates to join the AADCS.

It was followed by a short video presentation created by the graduates that showed their study journey at UTAR.

Three graduates were invited to say a few words at the ceremony. Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Chinese Studies graduate Tan Yuen Ying represented the undergraduate students, while Master of Chinese Studies graduate Ong Tun Min and Master of Arts (Chinese Studies) graduate H’ng Gaik Hong represented the postgraduates.

Later on, a piano performance was presented by Chinese Studies Year Two student Siew Ying Lin to congratulate her seniors. The song she played was Shou Zhang Xin (手掌心). There were also sharing sessions conducted by ICS alumni Lee Jenn Yuan, Gan Xi Wen and Tan Hui Sean on working and entrepreneurship It was followed by an introduction to ICS’s postgraduate programmes by Head of Postgraduate Degree Programmes Dr Tan Ai Boay. The graduation ceremony ended with exchange and virtual photography sessions.