UMPSA celebrates Alumni Day every 12 August

PEKAN, 26 July 2024 - Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) will celebrate the first Alumni Day on 12 August 2024 to mark another significant milestone in the university’s history.

The UMPSA Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Ts. Dr. Yuserrie Zainuddin announced the date of UMPSA Alumni Day on 12 August every year in a press conference in conjunction with the recent Launching Ceremony of the Edutourism Programme and UMPSA Alumni Day at the Water Recreation Centre, UMPSA Pekan.

According to him, the meeting of the Public University Alumni Council No. 2/2021 on 17 June 2021 set the date of 18 July every year to be recognised as Public University Alumni Day to celebrate the establishment of the Public University Alumni Council on 18 July 2020.

“Therefore, UMPSA chose the date of 12 August to commemorate the First Convocation Ceremony of the University College of Engineering and Technology Malaysia (KUKTEM), which is now known as UMPSA.

“On 12 August 2006, a total of 364 students were declared graduated.

“Therefore, UMPSA chooses 12 August every year to be declared as UMPSA Alumni Day in conjunction with the first day of the university’s Convocation Ceremony,” he said.

He said that through the UMPSA Centre for Alumni Relations, various efforts were made to empower alumni institution to always be relevant to current developments.

“In addition, it is one of the initiative strategies to encourage alumni to remain actively engaged with the university.

“This initiative is also a significant step to strengthen the relationship between the university and graduates.

“The main goal is to encourage alumni to continue to engage with the university and strengthen relationships through various annual activities,” he said.

According to him, as of 21 July 2024, the number of UMPSA alumni has reached 44,763, including 43,732 local alumni and 1,031 international alumni.

“The Alumni Day celebration will be a platform for alumni to gather, share experiences and strengthen relationships with their alma mater.

“In addition to the Alumni Day celebration, several strategic and collaborative programmes are scheduled,” he said.

Among them are the Sarawak Alumni Meet and Greet, which will be held in Bintulu on 16 August 2024; the Southern Alumni Meet and Greet, expected in September; and the Eastern Alumni Meet and Greet, expected in November 2024.

“I would also like to call on alumni to join the ‘Alumni Turun Padang’ programme in conjunction with the 19th UMPSA Convocation Ceremony this year.

“This platform allows alumni to share expertise and motivation with students apart from career talks, faculty networking sessions and alumni sports with faculties.

In the meantime, UMPSA has recognised prominent alumni figures at the 2023 Mercu Sanjung Award Ceremony for the 2010 Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering graduate who is currently serving as General Manager of Permula Sdn. Bhd. and also the recipient of Alumni Icon, Datuk Ts. Mohd Faiz Zulkifli.

Meanwhile, Muhammad Redzuad Ras Abdul Rask, a graduate of the Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with Automotive in 2018, is now the Managing Director of Murs Ventures Sdn. Bhd. is the recipient of the Inspiration Alumni Icon, and Lt. (PA) Kang Wei Xian, a 2019 Bachelor of Electrical Engineering Technology graduate, Civil Defence Special Forces Operations Officer, Malaysian Civil Defence Force, is a recipient of the Icon of Promising Alumni.

Professor Dato’ Ts. Dr. Yuserrie said UMPSA produces graduates and alumni who not only excel in academics but also have soft skills that are in line with the industry’s needs when they reach a 97.3% graduate employability rate, one of the highest among public universities (UA) for 2023.

“Also among the highest, 83.6% of graduates related to skilled work or according to the Malaysia Standard Classification of Occupations (MASCO) are in Main Group 1: Managers; Key Group 2: Professionals; Key Group 3: Technicians and Associate Professionals and among the highest percentage among public universities for entrepreneurial income generated by the university.

“More proudly, UMPSA graduates also earn first degree graduates with a monthly income of RM4,001 and above and have premium salaries which are among the highest percentages in the service sector (36.2%), manufacturing (20.4%), construction (19.7%), professional, scientific and technical (11.5%), information and communication (10.8%) and others (1.5%).

“In addition, UMPSA offers programmes based on engineering and technology and offers international collaboration programmes that enable the university to record among the highest achievements of graduates working abroad,” he said.

Among them, the offering of the UMPSA Dual Degree Programmes in collaboration with Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences (HKA) and Mannheim University of Applied Sciences (HMA), and Beijing Jiaotong University (BJTU) involving civil, mechanical and electrical engineering fields that will contribute to the development of the country’s rail industry.

By: Naqiah Puaad, Centre for Corporate Communications
Translation by: Dr.  Rozaimi  Abu  Samah, Faculty   of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology