UMPSA produces 35 pioneer graduates of Bachelor of Automotive Technology

GAMBANG, 21 October 2023 – Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) made history by celebrating, for the first time, the graduates of the first batch of the Bachelor of Automotive Technology at the 18th Convocation Ceremony of UMPSA recently.

A total of 35 graduates of the Bachelor of Automotive Technology successfully completed their studies excellently, and many of them also received university awards at the convocation ceremony.

UMPSA Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Tr. Dr. Yuserrie Zainuddin said that for the first intake of the programme that started in 2019, UMPSA is the only MTUN university that opens opportunities for graduates of Malaysian Skills Diploma (DKM), Advanced Malaysian Skills Diploma (DLKM), and Malaysian Vocational Diploma (DVM) who wish to pursue their studies at the bachelor's degree level.

"What makes it more interesting is that these students will undergo the Work Based Learning (WBL) programme, which is a learning approach that combines university learning with industry learning to create an integrated experience (theory and practical) for a year.

"While in the industry, students will have an industry mentor.

"This mentor will guide students in courses conducted in the industry.

"Thankfully, within four years, this first group has successfully completed their studies with excellence," he said.

What is more prideful is that four of them received awards at the convocation ceremony, including the Royal Education Award (Excellent Medal) received by Muhammad Ambri Mohd Shaari, the UMW Holding Bhd. Excellence Award received by Muhammad Akmal Alif Ahmad Takim, Norkhairil Benjyamin Nazeri received the Best PSM Mechanical and Automotive Engineering Faculty Innovation Project Award, while Muhammad Hazimin Hazizan received the Excellence Award for the FTKMA Programme.

According to Muhammad Ambri Mohd Shaari, his success and that of his fellow students prove that vocational college graduates can succeed and secure jobs in the industry.

"Thanks to UMPSA for giving opportunities to people like us to continue seeking success.

Meanwhile, his friend, Muhammad Akmal, said that choosing to continue his studies at UMPSA was the right choice, even though initially, there was a dilemma between continuing studies or working.

"As pioneers in this programme, I admit that at the beginning there were many challenges as it was difficult to find additional reference sources, especially when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country.

"Thanks to the patience and the perseverance, we all managed to navigate the twists and turns of the journey and achieve success at UMPSA," he said, now serving as a Design Engineer at Move Robotic Sdn. Bhd.

By: Nor Salwana Mohamad Idris, Centre for Corporate Communications

Translation by: Aminatul Nor Mohamed Said, UMPSA Career Centre (UMPSACC)