Four faculties from UTAR Sungai Long Campus organised celebratory activities for graduates of the March 2021 Convocation. The faculties include Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, Faculty of Creative Industries, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, 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.
Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science
Nine departments from the Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science (LKC FES) hosted a homecoming e-gathering for graduates via Microsoft Teams on 20 March 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.
Congratulatory message from LKC FES Dean
Prof Goi congratulating graduates for their achievement
LKC FES Dean Ir Prof Dr Goi Bok Min said, “Dear UTARians, your convocation is a proud occasion for us to celebrate, congratulations! 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. Yes, UTAR my choice! Well done!”
Congratulatory messages from LKC FES Deputy Dean
Deputy Deans of LKC FES congratulating graduates for their achievement
LKC FES Deputy Dean for Academic Development and Undergraduate Programmes Assoc Prof Ir Dr Gobi Vetharatnam congratulated the graduates and 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 enthused, “Hi all, 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 said, “Congratulations students! 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.”
Congratulatory messages from LKC FES Head of Departments
HODs of LKC FES congratulating graduates for their achievements
LKC FES Head of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department Assoc Prof Ir Dr Chang Yoong Choon advised, “First of all, congratulation to all the graduates of Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. The past year had been a challenging year for all of us and I am very proud that all of you have continued the learning under the new learning environment and successfully graduated from UTAR.”
LKC FES Head of Surveying Department Dr Felicia Yong Yan Yan said, “Hats off to you graduates! Well done! I hope your dreams take you to the corners of your smiles, to the highest of your hopes, to the windows of your opportunities, and to the most special places your heart will ever know. Congratulations!”
LKC FES Head of Laboratory Management and Safety Administration Department Ts Dr King Yeong Jin congratulated the graduates and said, “Congratulations on your graduation. Best wishes for your next adventure. Good luck! ”
LKC FES Head of Mechatronics and
Biomedical Engineering Department Dr Kwan Ban Hoe said, “Congratulations on
your graduation. We are proud that you have achieved this milestone, well
done and all the best to you!”
LKC FES Head of Civil Engineering
Department Dr Ling Lloyd said, “Hello Civil Engineering graduates, today is
a big day for all of you. It’s not easy to overcome the difficulties to
graduate, but all of you did it! Congratulations and welcome to the new
chapter of your life.”
LKC FES Head of Internet
Engineering and Computer Science Department Ts Dr MadhavanBalan Nair
congratulated the graduates and said, “I would like to take this opportunity
to congratulate every one of you for successfully completing the programme.
I hope you have a good journey in your career life, all the best! ”
LKC FES Head of Chemical
Engineering Department Dr Mah Shee Keat said, “Dear graduates, this is a
great moment to mark your life milestone. I am here to wish you all the best
in your future endeavours. UTAR is not just a university; we are a community
that connects people. Remember that our door is always open for you.”
LKC FES Head of Architecture and
Sustainable Design Department Ts Tan Kok Hong enthused, “Congratulations to
all the Architecture students! You have finally completed the courses.
Despite the pandemic, you continued strong and did well. May you be blessed
in pursuing your goals in life.”
LKC FES Head of Mathematical and
Actuarial Sciences Department Dr Wong Voon Hee said, “Congratulations on
your graduation, you have finally made it! Graduation is not the end of your
journey but it is the beginning of another new chapter in your life. Good
luck and keep in touch!”
LKC FES Head of Mechanical and
Material Engineering Department Ts Dr Yeo Wei Hong advised, “I would like to
take this opportunity to congratulate all the graduates; you have made it!
Well done! Here’s a message to all of you, for whatever you are going to do
in the future, never stop learning never stop trying and live your life to
the fullest.”
HOPs of LKC FES
congratulating graduates for their achievement
LKC FES Head of Master of Project
Management Programme Assoc Prof Ir Ts Dr Jeffrey Yap Boon Hui said,
“Congratulations on your amazing accomplishment and all the best!”
LKC FES Head of PhD (Sc) and MSc
Programme Ts Dr Khaw Chwin Chieh said, “Congratulations! Today is a
milestone that tells you how far you have come. Keep learning, keep trying,
keep accomplishing and keeping venturing onto your journey. Best wishes to
you all.”
LKC FES Head of Master of
Engineering (Mechanical) Programme Ts Dr Lee Hwang Sheng said, “2020 was a
challenging year, but you have gone through it and achieved a great
milestone. Well done and all the best!”
LKC FES Head of PhD (Eng) and
MEngSc Programmes Dr Ng Yee Sern said, “Congratulations to all the
graduates. Wish you all the best in your future endeavours.”
LKC FES Head of Master of
Architecture Programme Ar Ts Quake Huay Tin said, “Congratulations everyone
and all the best for your next adventure. Continue learning and pursuing
your dream in life, but most importantly, be a good and happy architect.”
LKC FES Head of MEng (Electronic
Systems) and MEng (Electrical) Programmes Dr Shee Yu Gang enthused, “I am
very proud of all of you because of your strong determination and desire in
completing the study. I strongly believe that your hard work will grant you
a successful career in the future.”
LKC FES Head of Master of
Mathematics Programme Dr Wong Wai Kuan said, “Dear all LKC FES graduates,
congratulations on your graduation. You have now reached a new milestone in
your life. I would like to wish you all the best and good luck in your
future undertaking.”
LKC FES Head of Master of
Information Systems Programme Dr Wong Whee Yen said, “Congratulations for
your well-deserved success. What a wonderful day to know that your time and
dedication had paid off in a great way. We couldn’t be happier for you on
this meaningful day, we hope that you will be moving on to your dream job
and we sincerely believe that you will be extremely successful. ”
Piano performance
by Software Engineering student from the IT society
DIECS, D3E and DS also received
motivational messages from Industrial Academic Panel (IAP) and industry
partners. Present to deliver the motivational messages were Executive
Director of Orient Telecoms Sayed Mustafa Ali, Duriane Professionals Sdn Bhd
Managing Director Ir Yau Chau Fong and Co-chair of Royal Institution of
Surveyors Malaysia (RISM) Young Quantity Surveyor (YQS) 2020/2021 SR Dr
Theong May Chuan.
Sayed delivering
his motivational message
Sayed congratulated the graduates
and said, “Let me share the facts about software engineering. Software
engineering is a new era and is a need for today and the future. As we are
living in technology edge, the software is a major contributor to the
development of technology in the world today.”
He then continued, “Software
engineering is a very unique field because you will be creating something
which is not present. You need to be able to visualise your product before
you create it.” He also advised, “You would usually think that getting a
degree is a ticket to a good life or good job. But, let’s think of something
bigger; think of the opportunity to change the world, to change lives and
change the way the world looks at Malaysia as a developed nation.”
Ir Yau (left)
sharing his experience with the graduates
Ir Yau shared his topic titled “Is
Engineering still Sexy?” to over 40 participants, where he spoke about life
as an engineer, top 10 strategic technology trends, engineering disciplines,
the route to be a professional engineer and its opportunities.
He advised, “In today’s
industries, the requirement has changed. What was once an individual task
has now become a team activity. Engineers must develop the skill to be
resourceful to stay ahead in the marketplace. Also, integrity is the key to
success.”
Ir Yau, who has more than 18 years
of working experience, said, “Scientists study the world as it is,
engineers, create the world that never has been. Thus, we are the creator
and that’s the importance of engineering in the world. Electrical and
electronic engineering continue to be buoyant industries and we can venture
into the electrical and electronic design, construction industry,
manufacturing, power plants, devices and systems design and development,
management, education and so forth.”
Sr Dr Theong
encouraging students to step out of their comfort zone
Contracts Manager of Giant Leap
Construction Sdn Bhd SR Dr Theong, who is also co-chair of RISMYQS of
2020/2021, shared her topic titled “Quantity Surveyor To-Be”. Sharing her
personal working experiences, she said, “Say yes as much as you can to
anything that can help you to explore your new location and new life, and
all of these will make you step out from your comfort zone.”
She also gave a brief introduction
about RISM and RISM YQS and encouraged DS graduates to join RISM YQS by
sharing interesting activities during the session.
The celebration was followed by a
sharing session by guests from the industries and alumni representatives.
Another sharing session was carried out on postgraduate opportunity and
research by DS and experience sharing on choosing the right path by DMME.
Besides, the celebration also saw final year project presentation by DASD
graduates.
Chong sharing tips
on how to survive at the workplace
Master of Project Management
alumni Chong Ka Foo graduated from UTAR in 2019. He now works as an
Administrative and Diplomatic Officer at the International Division of the
Ministry of Finance. He shared his experience as well as tips of being an
industry practitioner in his congratulatory speech. He said, “I am so happy
and proud to be here today to speak a few words to my juniors. I found that
communication management and networking are important when you are in your
working life.” He also encouraged graduates to apply for jobs in the
government sector.
Jack Wah
encouraging graduates to keep learning and keep trying
Jack Wah Shi Jie, who graduated
from UTAR in 2014, now works as a Contract Executive in Pembinaan Bintang
Baru Sdn Bhd. He said, “The point of focus will be different when you are in
a different firm or agency. No matter what type of firm you join, you will
need the knowledge you have learnt in the classroom.”
He added, “You can learn anything
no matter where you go. The most important thing is you should know what
suits you the best and go for the best option. Don’t feel shy to join and
grab any opportunity that is offered to you; you might get more than what
you imagined. Only after that, you should decide which career pathway to
choose, e.g. a professional QS, a contractor or pursue further study. Also,
don’t stop learning. The industry continues to evolve itself where a lot of
new technology emerge every day; do keep in mind that you must always be
prepared.”
Dr Jeffrey advising
students to continue lifelong learning
UTAR Department of Surveying
lecturer Ir Ts Dr Jeffrey Yap Boon Hui shared, “If knowledge is power, then
learning is a superpower. Therefore, we must keep educating ourself and this
is called lifelong learning.”
Dr Jeffrey has 19 years of working
experience in the building construction industry. Before joining academia,
he was in the industry as an engineering consultant and property developer.
Prof Andy Chit
chose the academic path as he favoured research and university environment
Before the graduates set sail to
the world of career, it is only right for the experienced lecturers to share
their words of wisdom. “Be prepared to work hard. Put 100 per cent effort
and always maintain your ethics in the job. We have provided you with the
fundamental knowledge and now your real learning experience will start. The
process of learning never stops, even for me,” advised LKC FES Centre for
Railway Infrastructure and Engineering Chairperson Prof Dr Andy Chit Tan
during a Q&A session held at the DMME Homecoming Night 2021.
Answering an inquiry on the dilemma of choosing the right path, Prof Andy reminded the graduates that there is no right or wrong answer, “Every individual is different. You should try out different things before deciding which path to stay on. If the academic path is your choice, make sure you aim to be a professor.”
Chairperson of IChemE Student Chapter Allan Chong Han Lin congratulating graduates for completing their studies
To celebrate the milestone achieved by the graduates, the DSAD brought in graduates to share their excellent final year projects and inspire fellow graduates and students. The session saw Architecture graduates Wong Junming and Chong Wai Xuan sharing their beautiful and creative projects that were not only a feast to the eyes but ones that also catered to the contemporary issues faced by the community.
Wong Junming’s project titled “The Intervene” tackles the accommodation availability problem faced by fresh graduates in the Klang area with an affordable cost unit, strategic location and self-sustainability feature
Chong Wai Xuan “New Port Mixed-Use” project complements the beautiful Klang
scenery with a well-equipped complex that includes residence units, library,
amphitheatre, roof garden and spatial experience gallery
Also, Architecture graduate Wong Jia Wen shared tips to produce an
attractive, professional and promising portfolio. She advised, “Seeking job
opportunity can be proven challenging especially during the difficult time
of the pandemic. For Architecture graduates, a portfolio is crucial to
create a good impression to potential employers.”
Aside from colour choice and design arrangement, Wong Jia Wen also reminded
her juniors to secure their previous assignments and projects as they can be
used in the portfolio to impress potential employers
The session with the three Architecture graduates drew its closure with a
Q&A session related to their experiences in the early days of diving into
the world after graduating. “Landing a job is not easy, especially these
days. Firms are not hiring due to the pandemic and financial limitation.
Therefore, while you are seeking it, you should utilise your skills doing
something related such as freelancing and commission-based work to keep your
skills fresh and ready when you get your call,” Chong advised.
Department of Accountancy’s group photography session
FAM Department of Accountancy had its alumni sharing session, themed ‘Paving
your path after graduation’ on 13 March 2021 to inspire the graduates to
pursue their dreams.
Present at the sharing session was Association of Chartered Certified
Accountants (ACCA) and
Malaysian Institute of Accounting (MIA)
member Cheong Hoong Chin who shared his education journey towards obtaining
professional qualifications. He also spoke about his memorable work
experience in the accounting firm and the importance of upskilling oneself
in order to stay competent. He added, “Success is the result of perfection,
hard work, learning from failure, loyalty and persistence.”
Cheong, who is also a UTAR alumnus, has more than 10 years of experience
with KPMG, including 18 months of overseas placement in Australia. He
specialises in Audit and Assurance with vast involvement in industries such
as utilities and power; manufacturing and trading; oil and gas; industrial
products and many others.
The session was continued with a Q&A session between Cheong and the
graduates. Cheong provided tips for future interviews, ideas to craft resume
and highlighted the selling point of fresh graduates. He also shared his
work life in KPMG as an auditor, the working environment both in Malaysia
and overseas, the impact and challenges of Artificial Intelligence on
auditing and the benefits of data analytics in the audit environment.
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Dr Sia (bottom row, far left), Datuk Paul Khong (middle row, far right),
Kenneth Wong (bottom row, far right) during the virtual meet-up
The Department of Building and Property Management organised “Pre-convo
e-mamak session with alumni and industry experts: Planning your life after
graduation” on 19 March 2020. Invited to speak were Savills (Malaysia) Sdn
Bhd Managing Director and Head of Central Management Datuk Sr Paul Khong,
Laurelcap Asset Management Sdn Bhd Kenneth Wong and Vivahomes Realty and
Viva Cheras Group Branch Head Elvyn Lim.
Datuk Sr Paul Khong shared his vast working experience and his journey as a
valuer, “Congratulations to all graduates and welcome to the real estate
world. The real estate sector is a good and lucrative industry. The most
important things are— be qualified; have valuable working experience; be
socially proficient with good public relation skills; build strong networks
with friends and form an interesting personality. You need to work hard and
do not give up, that with a little bit of luck will get you far in your
career.”
Kenneth Wong spoke about an interesting yet challenging career in property
management. He said, “It is important to understand the Malaysian property
management standards. It is interesting because it involves relationship
with relevant parties, data and reports, various trades and other related
knowledge as well as various procedures to ensure the building it managed
properly. The challenges are getting the right candidate for the position;
having the right attitude; training; knowledge and having a good team.”
Elvyn Lim, also a UTAR alumnus, said, “Congratulations to all the juniors,
you have graduated. As a real estate negotiator, you will need to put in a
lot of effort, adapt to the current environment and act upon it before
reaping the benefits of unlimited income. Where there is a will, there is a
way to achieving your dream.” Aside from that, he also shared the commission
percentage of sealing a deal, sub-sale, project sales and other related
topics on real estate.
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Elvyn Lim (middle row, far right) with the graduates, lecturers and guests
The Department of International Business and Department of Economics also
organised an online meet-up on 27 March 2021. With their theme ‘The journey
after graduation: An everlasting moment’, several alumni from both
departments shared their working experience, tips and advice to the
graduates.
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Group photograph session among lecturers and alumni
Lawrence Loh advised, “Plan your career ahead, find out what you like to do,
set your goals before making the strategic plan to achieve your goal.” Lim
Jia Jun added, “You have to accept nothing comes easy, thus, work hard to
achieve your goal. It is important to know the direction to the career you
would like to pursue, otherwise getting an internship would not help you to
acquire the skills and knowledge you need.”
Great Eastern Agency Manager Kay Tan shared her seven years of work
experience in the field of financial planning. She said, “I started as
insurance agent as I was interested in financial planning and I saw a great
opportunity to grow even further. Along the road in my career, I have learnt
a lot and it is good to know that my job is helping the society as well.
Part of my job is to determine clients’ need and see what is the most
favourable plan for the clients as well as grooming young talents. The sky
is the limit, thus push yourself forward to achieve what you want in life.”
Malaysia Aviation Commission Consumer (MAVCOM) Affairs Manager Thomson
Emmanuel Wong said, “MAVCOM is economic and commercial regulator related to
civil aviation in Malaysia. We promote a commercially viable,
consumer-oriented and resilient civil aviation industry which supports the
nation’s economic growth. There is a wide spectrum in the industry from
these two programmes. It is alright if you do not have a direction upon
graduation, allow yourself some time to explore as you learn from the jobs
you are in. It is important to have an open mind to explore and dare to take
risk and challenges as well as being adaptable to the situations of the
economy.”
Marcus Sia who is currently working with Sense Media Sdn Bhd as Operation
Manager said, “There are various jobs out there for your passion in life.
Seek out what you would like to do or achieve. Your first job is not
forever, as later on in life, you will be exposed to different areas which
is possible for your to venture in.”
Faculty of Creative Industries
While
all the graduates
celebrated their commencement
virtually
this year,
students
who graduated from the Faculty of Creative Industries
(FCI) were also given
the opportunity to celebrate their achievements
online with their beloved lecturers and peers. The faculty conducted a
separate, live and online graduation ceremony for each department, which
included the Department of Mass Communication, the Department of Game
Studies, and the Department of Multimedia Design and Animation.
Dr David Tneh sharing his inspiring message with graduates
FCI Dean Dr David Tneh Cheng Eng was invited by the Department of Multimedia
Design and Animation to share his word of encouragement and congratulations
with the graduates. In his remarks, he said, “Congratulation on completing
the academic journey. As you complete your academic journey, you are
starting a new journey. To complement your new journey, there are three
things that I would like to share with everyone. The first is, as you embark
on the new journey, you need to upgrade your skillset. Having a skillset is
very important. For example, communication skills, making decision skills,
and problem-solving skills. The second is capacity building. As you build
capacity, you also build confidence. It is okay if you suffer setbacks.
It
is part of life.
It is okay to be not okay.
It is okay to fail along the way. Most importantly, you build capacity for
bigger things to come. Last but not least, be strong in every sense of the
word. Not only physically, but be strong mentally as well. You need to keep
maintaining your health especially during this pandemic.”
He also advised the graduates to stay connected and wished them all the best
in their endeavours.
FCI graduates and their lecturers gathered online to celebrate the achievement together and to create warm memories
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
The Sunday on 21 March 2021
started early as Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences’ (FMHS) graduates,
students, staff and alumni gathered via Microsoft Teams to celebrate the
graduating batch of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Traditional Chinese Medicine
(TCM) courses.
The three-hour event
saw performances, warm wishes and a walk down the memory lane for the
graduates.
A heart-warming
compilation of memories of graduates throughout their study
“I do not have any regrets
studying at UTAR because the course provided is high standard. It was not an
easy course and I had to study very hard. I just want to advise you to be
confident in what you do; that is what I did and now I am graduating, of
course, it was with the help and guidance from everyone as well. My
university life was also memorable and enjoyable with fun and supportive
friends,” said Nursing graduate Chong Pay Wei.
Physiotherapy graduate Chong Kum
Weng added, “It has been long as well as short four years of journey. The
work and assignments made it feel long but all the memories that we created
throughout our studies made it feel very short. Completing our studies is
not merely an achievement, but also a tool to open up doors to many
opportunities. Thank you to our lecturers for making this happen.”
Chong Pay Wei (left) and Chong Kum Weng
Dean, deputy deans
and Heads of Departments taking the opportunity to congratulate and offering
words of wisdom before the graduates embark on their future
The COVID-19 pandemic had a big
impact on the graduates and their studies. Some of the graduates shared
their thoughts on the challenges they faced during their studies.
“It was a rough ride with
sleepless nights and endless postings but above all, the greatest challenge
was the pandemic. I am proud to say that we have overcome all the challenges
and we only managed to do it with the support from lecturers, family and
friends. Thank you for your dedication and patience in shaping us to become
who we are today,” said Nursing graduate Rashini Vijayakumar.
As for TCM graduate Koh Suh Wei,
she found that the pandemic opened up a new perspective for her, “When my
clinical posting was suspended due to the pandemic, I realised that life is
full of ups and downs. I learnt to be grateful for everything, including the
fact that I have had the opportunity to learn with the lecturers and
friends. Above all, I am also grateful for the unforgettable experience of
doing clinical training in China. For all these, I must thank my parents,
who were my source of confidence.” Koh also reminded others that graduation
is not the end and that everyone must continue to grow and learn.
“Looking back, there were many
challenges and self-doubt that I faced throughout the four years of study.
Despite all that, I am truly happy and proud that I am now graduating. UTAR
got me one step closer to my dream,” added Physiotherapy graduate Krinissah
Ragu.
From left: Rashini Vijayakumar, Koh Suh Wei and Krinissah Ragu
Lecturers and
juniors bidding farewell to the graduating batch with warm wishes
In the midst of the fun and joy of
the celebration, FMHS also invited industry advisors to share their
beneficial thoughts on current issues. Industry Advisor for Bachelor of
Nursing Tan Soak Buay from Woodland Health Campus & Tan Tock Seng Hospital,
Singapore shared some insights about her experience working as a frontliner
in Singapore. During the peak period of the pandemic, with her speciality
being in trauma and orthopaedics, she was tasked to treat patients with
respiratory problems. She also had a duty as a ground nurse, working in
rotating shift to adapt to the situations. “We are always prepared for
outbreaks such as this, as this is not the first time,” said Tan Soak Buay,
referring to SARS and H1N1 outbreaks back in 2003 and 2009 respectively.
Tan Soak Buay sharing her experience as a frontliner during the COVID-19 pandemic
TCM Industry Advisor Sunway TCM Centre Medical Director-cum-TCM Consultant Assoc Prof Dr Lim Ren Jye reminding graduates to stay hungry for knowledge and always be humble as there is always new things to learn from others
TCM alumna Kong Ho Leh sharing the challenges faced by young TCM practitioners
Physiotherapy graduate Chiew Yian Nee explaining how physiotherapy service adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic
“Telerehabilitation” provided online physiotherapy treatment as an alternative to physical meet-up as physiotherapy was deemed as non-essential service during the pandemic
Duet singing performance by TCM students Tan Chin Wei (left) and Leow Hui Xin
FMHS alumni congratulating and welcoming graduates to join the workforce in the near future
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