Tea Meeting with UTAR President

Sharing session with UTAR President Ir Prof Dr Ewe Hong Tat

The Department of Alumni Relations and Placement (DARP) held a virtual Tea Meeting with UTAR President on 15 February 2022 via Microsoft Teams to provide graduands of the upcoming August 2022 convocation an opportunity to socialise with the president. The Tea Meeting saw UTAR President Ir Prof Dr Ewe Hong Tat sharing valuable knowledge and advice to the graduands.

Prof Ewe began the session by describing economic evolution as a subject of economics that focuses on changes through time in material providing systems (production, distribution, and consumption) and the social structures that surround those activities.

Prof Ewe sharing occupations that may be in great demand in the future

He also mentioned that employees must have a growth mindset and empathy, especially in this era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Moreover, he suggested prospective titles and occupations that may be in great demand in the future to the graduands. Among the professions he mentioned included biosystems engineer, technologist, and psycho-linguistics.

During the session, Prof Ewe also underlined the importance of future skills, such as flexibility, the ability to keep learning, mental equilibrium and emotional intelligence to survive among competitors.

Prof Ewe highlighting the key skills needed in CVs

Furthermore, Prof Ewe addressed a few critical talents that should be included in the curriculum vitae, such as abilities gained in one area but applicable elsewhere, skills that require particular training, and adaptable skills.

He said, “Soft skills play a vital role because companies consider soft talents to be an extra point of employment.” He also stated “problem-solving capabilities”, “the capacity to work under pressure and autonomously”, “good communication skills” and “the desire to learn” as the top five attributes that boost a candidate’s employability.

Based on a research conducted in 2018, Prof Ewe highlighted a few reasons why fresh graduates were unemployed. Among the reasons included requesting an exorbitant wage, being extremely picky when it comes to choosing companies, having a bad character, attitude, or behaviour, and having a weak command of English and communication skills.

UTAR’s six educational pillars

Prof Ewe concluded the session by discussing UTAR’s six educational pillars, which were virtue and morality, knowledge and intellect, physical and mental health, social and humanitarianism, aesthetics and harmony, and creativity and innovation.

The event ended with a group photograph.

Prof Ewe highlighting the crucial soft skills sought by employers

DARP staff Naaresh Arumugan completed the session by introducing DARP and its goals