By Khairul Anuar Muhamad Noh

SERDANG, Oct 22 – Graduates have been urged to pursue the value of ihsan as the pillar of excellence in developing a work culture that is right, efficient and of high quality.

Royal Chancellor of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah said graduates should appreciate these ihsan traits as UPM had taken these noble and benevolent values to higher grounds based on the concept of excellence, honesty and integrity, incorporated in all campus programmes.

“I am happy when told that these ihsan values have been incorporated in each and every programme and understood by every university resident.

“These noble values are a reflection of honesty of a person in whatever that he does. I was also made to understand that the university has introduced a new scheme, that is Skim Amal Soleh, for pensioners to share and leverage on their expertise in service-oriented performances based on these ihsan values.

“Graduates are reminded to be united, to be with the people and leaders to strengthen and improve national unity, stability and sovereignty of this country in the eyes of the world,” he said in his speech at UPM’s 40^th Convocation ceremony, held at Dewan Besar, Pusat Kebudayaan Kesenian Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, here, today.

At the ceremony, UPM celebrated 7,200 who succeeded in completing their studies, of whom 500 were PhD holders, 1,788 were Master’s degree graduates, 4,451 Bachelor’s degree and 461 diploma graduates.

Sultan Sharafuddin also called on foreign graduates to boost their level of excellence and maintain the good name of UPM as they were UPM ambassadors and representatives once they are back in their homeland.

“I am calling on the alumni to always return to UPM, either physically or by whatever ways whatsoever, so that together, they can help UPM. Through this, UPM will be able to function as the hub of knowledge which stays relevant at all times,” he said.

The 40^th Convocation ceremony also witnessed the graduation of the first batch of graduates in five study programmes – two graduates of Doctor of Public Health, 34 Master of Food Safety and Quality Assurance, 31 Bachelor of Science (Food Service Management), a jointly awarded PhD study programme between UPM and University of Sheffield and a dual PhD degree programme between UPM and Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan.

At the ceremony, His Royal Chancellor also bestowed Professor Emeritus titles to Tan Sri Setia Dr. Nayan Ariffin and Dato’ Dr. Kamel Ariffin Mohd Atan.

He also reminded UPM to continue leading the niche area of agriculture besides developing its capacity in national strategic fields such as engineering, medicine, computer science and nuclear diagnostic imaging.

“I will give my utmost support to UPM in continuing its legacy of excellence and to bring the field of agriculture to greater heights for that effective impact on the society and the country, particularly in strengthening the country’s food sovereignty in line with UPM’s slogan, Agriculture. Innovation. Life.

“I am calling upon all university residents to continue giving the best to the society and the country. The effort to disseminate knowledge and enhance racial dignity and the country should be continued through organized planning,” Sultan Sharafuddin said.

Describing UPM as the leader in pioneering research and higher education in the country, he also proposed that UPM beef up its activities with the industries as well as the community to achieve long-term gains.

Date of Input: | Updated: | hairul_nizam