KUALA NERUS—The 17^th Universiti Malaysia Terengganu Convocation Ceremony began yesterday in the Sultan Mizan Hall for the degree conferment on 2902 UMT graduands.

On the first day of the three-day event, two prominent figures, Dr Tun Daim Zainuddin and Admiral (Rtd) Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Panglima Dr Ahmad Kamarulzaman Hj Ahmad Badaruddin,  were conferred honorary doctorates in economy and management, respectively.

Sultanah Nur Zahirah, the Sultanah of Terengganu and the current Chancellor of UMT, deigned to grace the event.

In her speech, Sultanah Nur Zahirah urged the female graduands to work towards making more achievements in academic and research to uplift themselves. The Sultanah expressed her feeling of pride towards the achievements of two UMT female researchers recently.

Several awards were presented during the ceremony, including the Royal Education Award, the Chancellor’s Gold Medal Award, the Pro Chancellor’s Award, the Chairman of the Board of Director’s Award, and the Vice Chancellor’s Award.

UMT Vice Chancellor Professor Dato’ Dr Nor Aieni Mokhtar in her speech said that UMT had a number of achievements in academic and in research for this year. UMT academicians won the National Academic Award (Teaching), the Ministry of Education’s Excellent Service Award, and the L’Oreal-UNESCO For Women in Science National Fellowship. UMT’s journal received the Crème Potential award from the Ministry of Education.

She said that 118 research grants were secured from local and international agencies amounting to RM10.3 million. These grants will provide a big impact towards the industries, as well as the communities in the forms of income generation and quality of life improvement through the implementation of the Blue Economy. She also said that UMT will further forge strategic collaborations with government agencies and local and international industries.

Also present at the ceremony were Dato’ Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, Menteri Besar of Terengganu; Speaker of the State Assembly; Secretary of the state, senior officers of the state; Tan Sri Samsudin Osman, UMT Pro Chancellor; Chairman of UMT Board of Directors; and Members of UMT Board of Directors.

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Corporate Communication Centre

Universiti Malaysia Terengganu