MULTITUDE OF FRESH GRADUATES

RECEIVING..... Pricynthia receiving the Gold Alumni Medal for her outstanding performance from Head of State and UMS Chancellor, Tun Juhar Mahiruddin (left) accompanied by UMS Vice-chancellor, Professor Datuk Dr Mohd Harun Abdullah (middle).

By : SHALINA R

DONNING their graduation gowns and mortar boards 4336 UMS students received their scrolls in the  University's Convocation Ceremony from  20th to  22nd October this year. Of the four thousand or so graduates, 49 rise above the multitude feeling a little more special. These are those who have graduated with a first class degree.

In his speech, UMS Vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Mohd Harun Abdullah said, “This outstanding achievement, in my view, is an indicator of improvement in the academic and intellectual quality of UMS graduates this year.”

He added, “UMS Key Performance Indicators (KPI), in terms of graduates’ marketability in 2011, showed that about 55% of the UMS students are employed within six months after graduation.”

Harun also said in 2011, “UMS secured 128 research grants with a total funding of RM 8.6 million. While until July 2012, UMS has secured a total of 27 research grants with a cumulative total of RM 2.6 million in funding. In the area of publications, from 2004 to July 2012 more than 70 research findings were published in a variety of high-impact journals. If this momentum can be increased further, it is not impossible to realise UMS' aspiration to become a renowned research university by 2015.”

In order to ensure UMS is recognized at the national and international level, it is imperative for UMS to foster greater rapport and cooperation with other universities academically. Harun said, “To date, 150 memorandum of understanding (MoU) / memorandum of agreement (MoA) have been signed with foreign higher education institutions.

For the period of 2011 to 2015, there were 22 active MoUs in various disciplines involving cooperation in academic, research and student affairs with leading institutions from United Kingdom, Australia, Palestine, France, Indonesia, Philippines, German, Japan, Poland and Korea.”

Harun was appointed as the 4th Vice-Chancellor on the 16th June this year. Facing the graduands in the Chancellor Hall, he said, “On this day, graduates stepping out of this hall will no longer be UMS students, they will be stepping out as one of the UMS Alumni. The convocation ceremony does not indicate the end of your learning process. Today actually marks the start of a more challenging life journey into the real world.”

Mohd Fitri Arif Kadiru, a 23 year old lad from Kampung Tengah Batu Darat Tawau, will be one of the graduands taking his first step into the real world. The second child out of 5 siblings, Fitri is the first to graduate from university. He hopes to be a good role model for his other siblings.

As a young child, Fitri’s ambition was to become a pilot but fate has other plans for him. “I prefer the career path that I am on right now.” He wants to be a geologist.  With a Bachelor Degree in Science (Geology) with Honors Fitri is well on his way to become one. He already has a job offer to work in an oil company based in Sarawak. He will start work by the end of October 2012.

Besides hard work and dedication towards his studies, Fitri believes that in order to succeed, one must always have God in one's  heart and have parents’ blessings at all times.

Pricynthia Nesha a/p M Selvaraja, who crossed the South China Sea, from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Kinabalu, is one of the 49 students that have secured a first class degree from UMS. The 22-year old graduated with a  Bachelor Degree majoring in Marine Science.

She  believes that when it comes to studies it is not just memorizing things. She said, “It’s about understanding, and that’s how I got through." Pricynthia already has a job lined up for her. She will work for  Reef Check Malaysia.

A non-profit organization, Reef Check is the world's largest international coral reef monitoring programme involving volunteer recreational divers and marine scientists. Pricynthia will be conducting educational programs for children. She will visit schools to teach children about  the marine eco system and rainforest eco system.

“As a child I had actually wanted to be a doctor. When I first started on  the marine science course I was skeptical about it. But it turned out to be a very good course and I have very experienced lecturers to make it interesting. So I actually enjoyed it.”

"Ever since I started studying marine science, I find that  I really love it. So I am very glad I got this job.”

In addition to her academic success, Pricynthia is also very talented in other areas. She was also presented with the Gold Alumni Medal for her outstanding performance, both in her studies and participation in her co-curriculum activities at the UMS 14th Convocation Dinner Ceremony held the night before the convocation day at the Pacific Sutera Hotel, Kota Kinabalu. (Insight Sabah)