Kuala Lumpur, 18 July 2009 - UCSI University held its 22nd Convocation, its first as a full-fledged University with 1,346 students graduating in the class of 2009. This convocation marked several other firsts in the history of the institution. For the first time, students from the newly-formed Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences graduated with their degree in Pharmacy under the University’s home-grown programme. It was also the first time 13 students graduated with their degree in English Language and Communications.

The convocation ceremony also had a sombre note, with two awards given posthumously. This year, the University awarded an honorary doctorate in education to the late Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Ahmad Razali bin Haji Mohd. Ali, who was the Chairman for the Board of Governers for Sedaya College in 1998. He had served the Board until his demise in 2001. His daughter, Dr. Nor Aida gave an acceptance speech in the memory of the late Tan Sri. Syed Mohamed Nur Bin Sayed Aladdin, a final year Mass Communications student who passed away late last year during his internship at Astro, also received his degree posthumously. His father, Sayed Aladdin received the degree scroll while Associate Dean Pn. Roslina Latiff gave a poignant eulogy about the late Syed Mohamed Nur.

In his speech, the Chancellor, Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Abdul Rahman Arshad, emphasized lifelong learning. “Knowledge is always expanded. Whatever you have learnt today, may be irrelevant tomorrow. The education you have received at UCSI University is merely the starting point. The pursuit of knowledge must go on so that you will not be overtaken by time,” he advised the graduates.

This year’s valedictorian is School of Nursing graduate, Ms. Hepzibha Alexander Dennis from Chennai, India. In her eloquent speech, she touched on issues of employment during the current economic recession. “It may seem easier to give in to discouragement and disappointment, but as many great men and women have believed and proven, it is during times of challenge and adversity that one has the greatest opportunity to break new grounds and succeed in life’s great journey.”

The convocation marked a turning point for all who graduated. Among them are First Class Honours students from the Pharmacy and the English Language and Communications programmes, Lim Mun Kit and Lim Su Ann respectively. Su Ann has already received a place at Reading University in the United Kingdom to pursue her Masters degree. “I love teaching, and I would probably be pursuing a career in lecturing once I have completed my Masters,” said Su Ann. Pharmacy graduate, Mun Kit is ecstatic to be counted among the first to graduate from UCSI University after it obtained its University status. “When I entered, it was still University College Sedaya International; now it’s a full-fledged university. It’s a huge plus for me.” The 24 year-old plans to do his internship at a government hospital before pursuing his Masters.