KUALA LUMPUR: Universiti Poly-Tech Malaysia (UPTM) honoured 1,131 Dean’s Award recipients on Nov 5 at a ceremony that also featured a career fair involving 45 industry organisations.
UPTM vice-chancellor Professor Dr Sharifah Syahirah Sy Shiekh said the recognition aimed to showcase students’ talents to potential employers and industry players.
“We always need to know how to pause and celebrate. One of the things we uphold is making sure we recognise and celebrate talent, while reminding students how amazing they are.
“We also celebrate them alongside industry players so that they can see the students, collaborate with them and maintain industry connections,” she told reporters.
The Student Appreciation Ceremony was part of the university’s Academia-Industry Collaboration 4.0: Empowering Talents, Shaping Futures programme at Dewan Merdeka, World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur. The awards recognised students for their academic excellence over two academic sessions.
The career fair offered internship and job placements, career consultations and a resume clinic. The programme also saw the launch of UPTM Academy, which supports lifelong learning, upskilling and reskilling. Talentbank was the programme’s strategic partner, management partner and grant provider.
Deputy vice-chancellor (Student Development and Campus Lifestyle) Associate Professor Dr Syamsul Fozy Osman said the recognition would motivate recipients while encouraging other students to strive for excellence, while giving them confidence to achieve higher cumulative grade point averages.
“When we appreciate these students, the faculties also feel motivated to compete and further improve their students’ achievements,” he said.
He added that parents would also gain greater confidence in the university.
Syamsul said the university had three hopes for the award recipients, with the first being that they would continue to excel.
“To me, one indicator of success is when those who have been recognised go on to perform even better,” he said.
The university also hoped the recipients would become outstanding people who could contribute to society and the country.
“And thirdly, we hope they will return to the university one day to share their experiences,” he said.
He cited the ceremony’s emcee, a former student, as an example of an alumnus returning to share his experience with the university.