The Department of Alumni Relations and Placement (DARP) organised a Tea Meeting with UTAR President Ir Prof Dato’ Dr Ewe Hong Tat on 21 February 2023 at UTAR Sungai Long Campus and 22 February 2023 at UTAR Kampar Campus to provide final year students with information regarding the current market and technology trends; ways to increase employability; tips on choosing future jobs; convocation and alumni services.

Prof Dato’ Ewe began the session by mentioning 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 graduates. Among the professions he mentioned included biosystems engineer, performance technologist, and visual ergonomics.

During the session, Prof Dato’ Ewe also underlined two skills needed for the future, namely adaptability and continuous learning, and mental balance and emotional intelligence. Furthermore, he addressed a few key skills that should be included in the curriculum vitae, such as transferable skills, job-related skills and adaptive skills. He continued to talk about the challenges of 21st-century education, which due to the rapid economic and social changes, schools are required to prepare students for jobs that have not yet been created, technologies that have not yet been invented, and unknown problems that will arise.

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

Prof Dato’ Ewe also encouraged the final year students to always equip themselves with new knowledge because learning is lifelong. He also advised them to differentiate things that are truly important versus things that are urgent. At present time, with changes constantly taking place, he advised them to be resilient and adaptable, while also keeping in mind the importance of good health and exercise.

In addition, he also spoke about the top 10 skills of 2023 which are analytical thinking and innovation; active learning and learning strategies; complex problem-solving; critical thinking and analysis; creativity, originality and initiative; leadership and social influence; technology use, mentoring and control; technology design and programming; resilience, stress tolerance and flexibility; and reasoning, problem-solving and ideation.

Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology (FEGT) Bachelor of Science (Honours) Construction Management student Arivalan Muralli said, “I am delighted to be in this tea meeting with UTAR President because he provided a lot of valuable advice and guidance for my next step. For my next journey, I plan to further my studies to the postgraduate level and continue learning something new before embarking into the working industry as an entrepreneur.”

Faculty of Accountancy and Management Bachelor of International Business (Honours) students Carmen and Amber said, “We are happy that we are going to graduate soon and we are looking forward to our next step in life. We also hope that we can be successful in our careers.”

Present at Kampar Campus were Vice President for Student Development and Alumni Relations Prof Dr Choong Chee Keong, Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology Dean Ir Prof Dr Ng Choon Aun, Faculty of Arts and Social Science Dean Dr Lee Lai Meng, Faculty of Science Deputy Dean Assoc Prof Dr Sit Nam Weng, Faculty of Business and Finance Deputy Dean Dr Peter Tan Sin Howe, Institute of Chinese Studies Deputy Dean Assoc Prof Dr Wong Wun Bin, Faculty of Information and Communication Technology Deputy Dean Dr Choo Peng Yin, Department of Alumni Relations and Placement Head Tan Cheng Wah and UTAR Alumni Association of Malaysia President Simon Chong Weng Yeap.  

Also present at Sungai Long Campus were Vice President for Student Development and Alumni Relations Prof Dr Choong Chee Keong, Faculty of Accountancy and Management Dean Dr Pok Wei Fong, Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science Dean Assoc Prof Ts Dr Yap Wun She, Faculty of Creative Industries Deputy Dean Ts Ang Kok Yew, M. Kandiah Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Deputy Dean Assoc Prof Dr Leong Pooi Pooi and Department of Chancellery Head Lim Swea Jen.