The grandeur of academic achievement and the spirit of accomplishment filled the air at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman’s (UTAR) 41st Convocation ceremony, where 1,637 graduates marked the height of their educational journey.
The ceremony, held from 22 to 23 August 2025 at Dewan Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik in UTAR Kampar Campus, was a momentous occasion that celebrated not only individual accomplishments but also the collective success of the UTAR community. The two-day convocation was held in three sessions, with 573 graduates in the first session, 526 in the second session, and 538 in the third session.
An aerial view capturing the proud moment as graduands and their families gather at UTAR’s 41st Convocation, celebrating a significant milestone in their academic journey
They graduated from 107 programmes, comprising 75 Bachelor’s (Honours) degrees, 23 Master’s degrees and nine PhD programmes. Of the 1,637 graduates, 24 received their PhDs, 54 received their Master’s degrees and 172 received their Honours degrees with Distinction, while the rest received their Bachelor Honours with Merit and Bachelor’s Honours degrees.
Graduands proudly marching towards Dewan Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik, ready to celebrate their momentous achievement
This convocation also celebrated the graduation of the first batch of students from the M. Kandiah Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, who completed the Master of Medical Science in Public Health; the Teh Hong Piow Faculty of Business and Finance, who completed the Bachelor of Business Administration (Honours) Tourism Destination Marketing; and the Faculty of Accountancy and Management, who completed the Bachelor of Finance (Financial Technology) with Honours programme.
Session One and Two of the Convocation were declared open by UTAR Council Chairman Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Ting Chew Peh; Session Three was declared open by UTAR Education Foundation Board of Trustees Chairman Tan Sri Dato’ Dr Sak Cheng Lum.
Tan Sri Ting declaring the opening of Session One and Session Two of the Convocation
Tan Sri Sak declaring the opening of Session Three of the Convocation
The guests of honour for the three convocation sessions were Dato’ Fam Lee Ee, President of AirAsia China (WOFE), Chairman of AirAsia X Bhd, Senior Independent Director of Capital A Bhd, and Senior Partner of Messrs Gan & Zul (Advocates and Solicitors); Datuk Koong Lin Loong, Managing Partner of Reanda LLKG International PLT and Treasurer General of The Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM); and Dato’ Frank Choo Chuo Siong, Managing Director of Xiao En Group.
Also present at the ceremony were UTAR President Ir Prof Dato’ Dr Ewe Hong Tat and UTAR Education Foundation Board of Trustees Members Datuk Lee Leck Cheng.
UTAR Hospital Board Chairman and UTAR Council Member Ir Academician Emeritus Prof Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Chuah Hean Teik also attended the convocation together with UTAR Council Members Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Ong Ka Chuan, Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Chor Chee Heung, Datuk Lim Si Cheng, Dato’ Ng Wan Peng, Mr Hew Fen Yee and Mr Loh Lee Soon.
Words of inspiration for graduates
Prof Dato’ Ewe congratulating the graduands of the UTAR 41st Convocation, celebrating their hard work, perseverance, and academic achievements
Prof Dato’ Ewe in his speech, advised, “As you begin this new chapter, remember that success is not always a straight path. It is often shaped by detours, challenges, and moments of growth. Stay true to your values, and don’t be afraid to carve your own path, even when it differs from the expectations around you. Let your setbacks become lessons, and let your progress be guided by purpose, not pressure. In moments of doubt, lean on the strength of those who believe in you; your family, mentors, and friends. Stay grounded, keep your curiosity alive, and never stop learning. This is your journey, walk it with courage, compassion, and confidence. The world is waiting for your contribution.”
The guests of honour in all three sessions delivered speeches to motivate and inspire the graduates.
A gentle reminder from Dato’ Fam: Be useful. Be brave. Be kind.
Reflecting on his journey, Session One’s guest of honour, Dato’ Fam, inspired the graduates with his speech, saying, “It is truly an honour to celebrate this milestone with the graduating class of 2025. Today is not only about your achievements but also about the many people who have supported you along the way – your families, friends, lecturers, and UTAR itself. I come from a humble background and was only able to pursue my studies because of my late mother’s sacrifices, and I know many of you have your own versions of that story. So I encourage you to take a moment to express gratitude to those who have journeyed with you, because gratitude will carry you far in life.”
“As you step into the world beyond these gates, remember this: be useful, be brave, and be kind. The knowledge and skills you have gained at UTAR are meant to make a difference in your communities and your nation. You will face challenges, setbacks, and even failures, but every failure is an opportunity to rise stronger. I’ve seen this in my own journey with AirAsia, where belief, resilience, and reinvention turned two old aircraft and a mountain of debt into a story of possibilities. Carry that same spirit with you – dream big, act with courage, and never forget where you came from,” Dato’ Fam added.
A reminder from Datuk Koong: Success means sharing knowledge for society’s good
Session Two’s guest of honour, Datuk Koong, congratulated the graduating students and reflected on the deeper meaning behind the convocation ceremony. “Convocation is not just a celebration of your hard work and perseverance, but also a reminder that this is only a checkpoint in your lifelong journey. The path ahead will bring both failures and successes, but what matters is your attitude, resilience, and determination to move forward. We are living in an era of breathtaking change, where artificial intelligence, automation, and digital innovation are reshaping industries. To remain relevant, we must cultivate a positive mindset, good values, and a commitment to lifelong learning.”
“As you step into your careers and communities, remember that your true value lies in how useful you are to others. Knowledge and experience become your irreplaceable assets when they are recognised and applied for the benefit of society. True success is not measured only by personal gain, but by the impact you make on others—by mentoring, supporting, and uplifting those around you. Embrace the future with courage and curiosity, and always strive to add value not just to your work, but to the world,” added Datuk Koong.
A reminder from Dato’ Frank Choo: True success lies in creating a legacy that is both successful and meaningful
Session Three’s guest of honour, Dato’ Frank Choo, delivered an inspiring message to the graduating class, stating, “Nearly 40 years ago, I was a young graduate just like you—full of ambition and bold dreams, yet life had other plans. I set aside my aspirations to support my father in a venture that few understood, and many ridiculed. His words to me, that one-day people would see our work was for the good of humanity, lit a quiet fire in my heart. With my family’s support, we carried on through struggles, setbacks, and even the heartbreak of my father’s passing. What began as a lonely road eventually became a movement—one that redefined an industry to be more human, more compassionate, and more relevant for the future.”
He also said, “Today, as I stand before you, I do so with gratitude—to those who believed, to the professors who nurtured the next generation, and to the parents whose sacrifices made this day possible. To you, the graduates, when you face uncertainty and doubt, persevere, seek clarity, and trust that your struggles will make you stronger. Life is impermanent, but it is infinitely beautiful if you allow it to be. As you step forward, may you build a legacy that is not only successful, but meaningful. Congratulations, Class of 2025.”
As the convocation ceremony concluded, the overarching theme of graduate readiness and leadership was clear. UTAR’s 41st Convocation celebrated not just academic success but the preparedness of its graduates to step into a rapidly changing world. The graduates left UTAR equipped not only with academic credentials but also with the critical thinking, adaptability, and resilience required for leadership roles.
As the graduates begin their next chapter, they join a growing community of over 90,000 UTAR alumni contributing across diverse sectors.
UTAR’s 41st Convocation reflected the University’s commitment to nurturing holistic individuals—resilient, future-focused, and prepared to contribute to a better tomorrow.
Tan Sri Ting (right) presenting the Doctor of Philosophy scroll to N. Thurai Murugan
Tan Sri Sak (right) presenting the Bachelor of Communication (Honours) Broadcasting scroll to Norshahirah binti Abdul Razak
Tan Sri Ong (right) presenting the Doctor of Philosophy (Social Science) scroll to Ong Xiu Hui
Tan Sri Chor (right) presenting the Bachelor’s degree scroll to a Faculty of Accountancy and Management graduate
Datuk Lee (left) presenting the Bachelor’s degree scroll to a Teh Hong Piow Faculty of Business and Finance graduate
Datuk Lim (right) presenting the Bachelor’s degree scroll to a Faculty of Arts and Social Science graduate
Mr Hew (left) presenting the Bachelor’s degree scroll to a Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology graduate
Mr Loh (left) presenting the Bachelor’s degree scroll to a Faculty of Information and Communication Technology graduate
Tan Sri Prof Chuah (left) presenting the Bachelor’s degree scroll to a Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science graduate
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