Wife shares late husband’s dream of earning Doctor of Philosophy, receives posthumous award

GAMBANG, 8 November 2025 – No one can resist divine decree, yet that was what unfolded when Doctor of Philosophy graduate, Faculty of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering Technology (FTKMA), the late Wan Ruslan Wan Yusoff, who passed away on 16 March 2025, before he had the chance to celebrate the success of completing his studies at the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) level.

With full perseverance, Julina Jamil, 57, stepped onto the main stage of the 20th UMPSA Convocation Ceremony today to receive the Posthumous Award on behalf of her late husband.

The presentation of the award was completed by the Pro-Chancellor of UMPSA, Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Abi Musa Asa’ari Mohamed Nor, during the first session.

According to Julina, she did not expect to be given the honour of receiving the award on behalf of her late husband, who was always diligent in seeking knowledge until the end of his life.

“This was one of my late husband’s dreams, to pursue knowledge at the highest level.

“He was someone who liked to challenge himself and never stopped seeking new knowledge.

“When others still did not know what artificial intelligence (AI) was, he had already begun writing and developing his own programmes,” she said.

She said that she herself witnessed his journey and struggles from the beginning until the end.

“He managed to submit his pre-viva thesis on 20 December 2024, but fate determined everything when he breathed his last due to cardiogenic shock secondary to advanced heart failure,” she said in an emotional tone when met.

This convocation ceremony also witnessed an emotional moment when five recipients received the Posthumous Award as a mark of the university’s appreciation for their fighting spirit in the pursuit of knowledge.

Apart from the late Wan Ruslan, those who also received the award were the late Muhamad Asraf Tohid, Bachelor of Technology Engineering (Infrastructure Management) with Honours graduate who passed away due to a road accident; the late Mohd Fairuz Kassim, recipient of the Professional Diploma in Business Management and Entrepreneurship; as well as two non-Muslim recipients, the late Sami Anak Nanang, Executive Master of Operations and Project Management graduate and the late Chang Fook, Executive Master of Construction Engineering Management graduate.

By: Siti Nurfarmy Ibrahim, Centre for Corporate Communications

Translation by: Dr, Rozaimi Abu Samah, UMPSA Press