UTAR held a physical convocation for the graduates of August 2021 at Dewan Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik of UTAR Kampar Campus on 5 and 6 March 2022. Over 1,700 graduates attended the convocation ceremony which was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to this physical convocation, an e-convocation ceremony was held for the graduates in August 2021 to celebrate their graduation.

The graduates from 81 programmes comprising 63 Bachelor (Honours) degrees, 12 Master’s degrees and six PhD degrees, attended the convocation in eight sessions held over two days.

Session One and Two of the Convocation were declared open by UTAR Council Chairman Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Ting Chew Peh; Session Three and Four were declared open by UTAR Council Member Mr Hew Fen Yee, Session Five and Six were declared opened by UTAR Council Member and UTAR Hospital Board Chairman Ir Academician Emeritus Prof Tan Sri Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik; and Session Seven and Eight were declared open by UTAR Council Member Dato’ Seri Ong Ka Chuan. Also present at the ceremony were UTAR President Ir Prof Dr Ewe Hong Tat.

The scroll presenters for Session One and Two were Tan Sri Ting and Tan Sri Chuah; Session Three and Four were Mr Hew and Prof Ewe; Session Five were Tan Sri Chuah and Mr Hew; Session Six were Tan Sri Chuah and Prof Ewe; Session Seven were Dato’ Seri Ong and Mr Hew; and Session Eight was Dato’ Seri Ong and Prof Ewe.

Speaking at the convocation ceremony, UTAR President Prof Ewe congratulated the graduates and advised them to continue learning even after their graduation. He said that, “Your graduation is not the end of learning but the beginning. There will be many more lessons in life ahead of you but the most important thing is to believe in yourself, to have a broad mindset and to live a life of integrity.”

Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology (FEGT) Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) graduate Dr Lee Yu Jen said, “I want to convey a heartfelt thank you to my family and loved ones, supervisors, friends and colleagues for their support and encouragement throughout my study. Without them, I would not have achieved the success I have earned today.” Dr Lee, who is also the head of Department of Electronic Engineering in UTAR FEGT, has been working as an academic since January 2010. He has also organised a number of international conferences focusing on research papers. When asked what he would advise his students as an academic, he enthused, “When things are not going smoothly, never give up! Eventually, you will find a way if you persevere!”

Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) Doctor of Philosophy (Medical Sciences) graduate Dr Norlaily binti Mohd Ali, who is now working as an R&D Scientist in Cell Tissue Engineering Company said, “I thank UTAR for providing me with a platform to further my studies. UTAR laboratories were well equipped with facilities to conduct research. The university also provided me with opportunities to collaborate and make connections with other local and international universities. These have helped me complete my research on time. I would like to thank my family members for believing in me and for never giving up on me. In addition to that, I also would like to thank my supervisor Prof Alan Ong Han Kiat for always guiding me till the end. I now finally feel the sense of thrill and achievement after obtaining my PhD at the convocation. Thank UTAR.”

Faculty of Accountancy and Management Master of Business Administration (Corporate Governance) graduate Fum Qi Teng thanked his family and lecturers for their guidance and support throughout his years of study. “UTAR programme has prepared me for the working world and has instilled a sense of responsibility and moral rectitude towards work as a candidate and employee,” said Fum who is currently working as a senior marketing specialist at an ICT company based in the Middle East. He added, “Social skills and soft skills matter more and far outweigh the academic achievement in the real working world. One will find common knowledge and the ability to improvise the key to many opportunities. Also, critical and numerical thinking are equally important too, regardless of what the job is. UTAR is indeed a great environment filled with academic talents and professionalisms, as well as credibility.”

Faculty of Arts and Social Science Bachelor of Communication (Honours) Public Relations graduate Lam Jeen Yee said, “My course, Public Relations, has helped me a lot in developing crucial skills such as creativity and communication skills. I am currently working as a CRM Digital & Campaign officer in OPPO Malaysia. The knowledge and skills I attained at UTAR, be it hard or soft skills, have undeniably elevated my creativity for campaign ideation and execution. I am neither an academic-oriented student nor a co-curricular oriented student. Instead, I focus on both and often strive to maintain a balanced lifestyle.”

Following the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the pandemic, all graduates attending the convocation ceremony had to do the RTK-Antigen Test and fill in the health declaration form and submit it before attending the physical ceremony on campus. All University staff on duty for the convocation as well as all guests of graduates were also required to do the RTK-Antigen Test before attending the convocation.