SIK, 29 September 2013 - Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) aims to ensure that about 40% of its graduates have a global mind-set and are able to continue their career path in any part of the world.

It was stated by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato' Dr. Omar Osman at the PIMPIN Siswa Camp closing ceremony in Beris here today.

“We want to ensure that students have a very comprehensive personal quality in building up the country’s future and contribute to the world development at the same time. At the end of the day what we want to see is the ability of our graduates to work independently in any part of the world,” said Omar.

He briefed the APEX Scholar programme to 120 PIMPIN Siswa participants and they were among the first year students who followed the programme since last Friday.

They are the final group who followed PIMPIN Siswa 2013 Programme over the last four weeks. This programme was Omar’s brainchilld when he was the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs and Development) in 2009 when USM was selected for the Accelerated Programme for Excellence (APEX) in September 2008.

According to Omar, through APEX Scholar Programme, they will be able to attend various training and internship programmes, within or outside the country with the support from various government agencies and private sector while improving the leadership skills among them.

“We expect to increase our graduates participation in careers around the world from the current 20% of graduates to about 40% and to ensure that they can work internationally as a leader of the future,” said Omar.

He added that programmes like these would help in increasing the ability and self-confidence among the students, at the same time it should be improved to become a platform for interaction, developing innovativeness, creativity and intellectual as well as focused volunteerism.

Touching on the programme, Omar said, “It provides an opportunity to students to go through a new experience, feel the hardships and difficulties, even an overnight stay in the tent and the main point is to work as a team in helping each other despite the differences and appreciate our diversity."

Also present were Camp Beris Commandant, Khairul Eruwan Abdul Halim, and facilitators among the officers, lecturers, university staff and senior students.

The Vice-Chancellor also signed a plaque on a Meranti tree (Shorea roxburghii) which was planted by him on 5 July 2009 when the programme was first implemented by the university. - Translation: Siti Faizah Abd Halim/Photos: Mohamad Danial Shahri