PENANG, 26 March 2018 – Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) recently held an event in showing its appreciation to the agents and buddies for supporting USM in raising the number of its international student enrolment.

“Today marks a special occasion celebrating and acknowledging the achievements and positive progress of our international agents and buddies and being the preferred university among international students globally,” said the USM Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International), Professor Dr. Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah in representing the USM Vice-Chancellor, Professor Datuk Dr. Asma Ismail.

“It is not enough to only bring in the students, as we aim to ensure their learning experience would be most exemplary while they are here and to be remembered as they leave us,” said Ahmad Farhan.

During the event, Ahmad Farhan also presented the certificates of appreciation to all the agents and also the top six buddies among the current international students.  

He also awarded the certificate for Top Agent to Phoenix Asia Academy of Technology, and Top Buddy to Kamal Ibrahim Ahmed Alieyan, from Jordan, who has successfully brought eight registered students.

For the record, USM has appointed nine international student agents covering nine global regions encompassing the Middle East, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan, Mongolia, Hong Kong and Indonesia. As for buddies, currently USM has 84 registered buddies and each one of them has recommended at least one registered student.  

Ahmad Farhan also reminded the international students, to act as ambassadors and share their personal experiences and first-hand insight into life at USM to help ‘recruit’ prospective students especially from their homeland.

“I believe their contributions will certainly help to boost the branding and image of our university to become the preferred university globally,” he added.

Also present at the programme were the Director of USM Centre for Business Development, Professor Datuk Dr. Abdul Khalil Shawkataly and USM Bursar, Dr. Rohayati Md Isa.

Text: Nor Rafizah Md. Zain