The Chancellor’s Speech at the UTM 60th Convocation Ceremony

ADDRESS BY THE VICE-CHANCELLOR OF UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA YANG BERBAHAGIA PROF. DATUK IR. DR. WAHID BIN OMAR 60TH CONVOCATION CEREMONY UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA DEWAN SULTAN ISKANDAR, UTM JOHOR BAHRU

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‫بسم هللا الرمحن الرحمي‬ ‫السالم عليمك ورمحة هللا وبراكته‬ ‫‪Salam Sejahtera, Salam Muafakat Johor,‬‬ ‫‪Salam Negaraku Malaysia‬‬ ‫‪and A Very Good Morning‬‬ ‫امحلد هلل رب العاملني‬ ‫الصالة والسالم عىل ارشف الانبياء واملرسلني‬ ‫وعىل آهل وحصبه آمجعني‬

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HEARTFELT APPRECIATION

With utmost respect to Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah binti Almarhum Sultan Idris Shah, Permaisuri of Johor, Chancellor of UTM. Heartfelt gratitude from the entire UTM community to her Majesty for consenting to grace this 60th UTM Convocation Ceremony, and to award degrees and recognition to the respective award recipients and UTM graduates.

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SEEKING THE CONSENT OF HER ROYAL HIGHNESS

Your Majesty, Please allow me to address the audience.

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SALUTATION

Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri-Tan Sri Pro Canselor, Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri, Chairman of the University Board of Directors and Puan Sri, Yang Berbahagia Datuk, Members of the UTM Board of Directors and Yang Berbahagia Datin.

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SALUTATION

Distinguished Guests, Senior Officials and University Senate Members, Professors and Lecturers, Graduates, Parents and Family Members of Graduates.

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First and foremost, praise be to Allah Subhanahu Wataala for with his grace and blessings, we are able to gather here at this 60th UTM convocation ceremony.

On behalf of UTM, I warmly welcome all distinguished guests, parents and family members of graduates, alumni of UTM and invited guests.

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NUMBER OF GRADUATING STUDENTS

At this 60th UTM Convocation Ceremony, a total of 1,967 graduates will be conferred their respective degrees as indicated on the screen and convocation bulletin.

For the record, up to this 60th Convocation, UTM has produced a total of 188,794 graduates of whom 7,450 are international graduates from over 64 countries.

Heartiest Congratulations to all graduates!

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CONGRATULATORY REMARKS

At this Convocation Ceremony, Professor Kyosuke Nagata, President, University of Tsukuba, Japan, will be conferred the Honorary Doctorate in Higher Education for his remarkable contribution in strengthening the collaboration with UTM especially in the realization of a Campus in Campus (CIC) programme in the joint Master Degree Program which is the first collaboration implemented of its kind.

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CONGRATULATORY REMARKS

The convocation session this morning will also witness the conferment of Dato’ Dr Ahmad bin Darus and Sr Omar bin Munir with the title of Emeritus Professor for their distinct and distinguished service to UTM. Heartiest Congratulations!

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KNOWLEDGE AS A GUIDING PRINCIPLE

As of today, you are officially a graduate after having met challenges headon in attaining knowledge, gaining experience, and lighting the path of life.

Equipped with knowledge, you are now able to advance further.

Nevertheless, what is the meaning of success without paying homage to those who have rendered assistance and made sacrifices in ensuring your success.

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PARA GRADUAN

SILA BERDIRI DEAR GRADUATES,

PLEASE RISE WWW.UTM.MY

SHOW OF GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION

Turn around and look behind you, see the happy faces filled with hope of your parents, family members, lecturers and all those who have contributed towards your success. Give them a big round of applause to show your utmost appreciation.

......Thank you......

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CONGRATULATORY REMARKS

The entire UTM community and I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all of you for successfully completing your studies at UTM. The conferment of your degree today is evidence that if you put your heart and soul to achieve success and worked hard towards it, God willing, you will be successful despite challenges that come along your way. However, not many people can achieve success and thus, you should always be grateful with your achievement and be ready to chart your next move into the real world.

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KNOWLEDGE IS A TRUST AND RESPONSIBILITY

The knowledge that you have gained is a kind of trust that is bestowed upon you and utilising the knowledge comes with great responsibility. The knowledge and technical competence you gained are not the only thing that you need in order to succeed in life.

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GOOD PERSONALITY THROUGH KNOWLEDGE

Tan Sri Syed Naquib Al Attas, in his writing highlighted that your mastery of knowledge in various disciplines can only shape your good personality provided that you are able to apply and integrate the knowledge in tandem with your action in the larger landscape of life.

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SIGNIFICANCE OF KNOWLEDGE

Thus, I would like to recommend three things as a reminder to all of us.

First, use your knowledge in the best possible way to benefit you, your family and the community. This is because the knowledge that you possess can bring benefit or alternatively, it can also cause damage if it is wrongly utilised.

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LIFELONG LEARNING TO MEET DEMANDS OF THE 21ST CENTURY

Second, continue to learn because lifelong learning requires you to always upgrade your knowledge, skills and competency in response to the demand of the 21st century which requires the ability to adapt to the challenges of Industrial Revolution (IR) 4.0. Besides, the lifespan of knowledge is very short in this era.

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ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL

Third, I would like to emphasize that we should not forget to be grateful for everything that we have especially the knowledge acquired. We should show our gratitude in everything that we do, for example, we should not be selfish but instead, always care for others.

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UTM QS RANKINGS

To the entire UTM community, I commend you for all your tireless efforts in positioning UTM as a reputable and renowned institution. At the moment, UTM is ranked 53rd in the world in the field of engineering and technology based on the QS ranking.

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ROLE OF UTM COMMUNITY IN DEVELOPING A CONDUCIVE EDUCATIONAL ECOSYSTEM Regardless of whether you are academics, management and professional staff, or operational staff, your commitment and contributions are indeed significant towards developing an ecosystem that is conducive to producing quality talents, in addition to generating research and innovation that are able to enhance universal prosperity.

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ROLE OF UTM ACADEMICS

To all especially UTM academics, always remember that knowledge is dynamic and we, as academicians must always reflect and be ready to change according to the present needs and requirements of our surrounding. We must be role models of lifelong learning to others.

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HEARTFELT APPRECIATION TO THE CHAIRMAN AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF UTM I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the Chairman and Board of Directors of UTM, for their invaluable support and guidance in ensuring that UTM continues to be on the right track.

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UTM ALUMNI

You are now Alumni of UTM. Thus, the entire university community and I welcome your experience, contribution and expertise towards further advancement of UTM. I believe the involvement of alumni to the University is capable of bringing great impact to the University and the community.

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UTM ENDOWMENT FUND AND UTM WAKAF FUND

We also welcome contributions in various forms including to the UTM Endowment Fund and UTM Wakaf Fund, to be utilised by underprivileged students. For the record, to date, UTM has received donations exceeding RM 3 million from UTM alumni from the total Endowment amounting to RM87.8 million.

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POEM Golden bananas brought along while sailing, One banana became ripe above a crate, Do not forget to repay your PTPTN borrowing,

The UTM Fund is also available to be filled.

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POEM You will venture across the country and travel to all corners of the world, To render your deeds and make contributions.

Nevertheless, wherever you are, at any moment in time, If you ever think of and picture UTM in your mind, Do remember that this is your home, Do come back ...

Please come and visit, UTM will always be waiting for your presence and contribution.

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HEARTFELT APPRECIATION TO HER MAJESTY

Before I end my speech, on behalf of the entire university community, I would like to once again express my heartfelt appreciation for Her Majesty’s deep concern for our students’ welfare and wellbeing. We are very honoured and touched by your kindness Tuanku. We pray that Your Majesty Duli Yang Maha Mulia Raja Zarith Sofiah Binti Almarhum Sultan Idris Shah, Permaisuri of Johor, the Chancellor of UTM, will be in good health, and be blessed by the Almighty Allah Subhanahu WaTaala.

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UTMOST GRATITUDE

I would also like to express my most sincere gratitude to the UTM ProChancellors, Chairman and Members of the Board of Directors, academic staff, administrative staff and both local and foreign guests for taking the time to attend this convocation.

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POEM Cempaka flowers blooming in the garden,

Sweet smelling bright and beautiful, God willing with Allah’s blessings, We will meet again at another occasion…..

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CLOSING

Before I end my speech, once again I would like to express my utmost appreciation and gratitude to Your Majesty for consenting to grace this 60th Convocation Ceremony.

......Thank you......

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