PENANG, November 2015 – After achieving many successes throughout 2015 and the previous years, including a handful of academicians acknowledged with various awards such as the National Academic Awards (Anugerah Akademik Negara), Malaysia Rising Star Awards and the Top Research Scientists Malaysia in addition to the impactful expertise of the researchers in the field of archaeology, soil movements, natural disasters, public administration and also in exploring electronic book (e-book) publications at the international level, USM is confident of facing the challenges in the future with greater success.

Speaking at the Chancellor’s Royal Banquet in conjunction with the 52^nd USM Convocation ceremony here, the USM Vice-Chancellor Professor Dato’ Dr. Omar Osman said, looking at some of the successes attained, they reflect the true capability of USM in facing the future. 

“See how we have leveraged more on the successes achieved to move ahead in a more assured way, not only in promoting the idealisms of knowledge but also in benefiting from it and to be realistic and pragmatic to remain relevant, even with the challenges and conditions to be faced ahead when the government reduces the financial support,” said Omar.

He stated that, USM is taking essential steps by making sustainability as its main core, with measures such as the reduction in energy usage and savings for utility and communications costs, utilising green technology as well as in making use of God’s gifts in ways most productive, implementing a more effective and productive work process, enhancing the procurement process, maximising the costs in talent management and human resource and implementing other prudent and sustainable measures to ensure the continuity of the university in the long run.

“This includes on how we can, in a creative and innovative manner, utilise various measures to raise the quality in cost-savings without compromising on the services to the community and society.

“We will also look into how we would fully gain the benefits from the relationships with various partners in offering study programmes and expertise at the international level through the numerous networks with universities worldwide, through the industry and community networks which would facilitate such measures,” said Omar.

The USM Vice-Chancellor added further, USM is always looking at different management models to be further strengthened for the future, especially in achieving the APEX 2020 plan which is aiming for sustainable achievements, including the efforts in student development and alumni empowerment such as the APEX Scholar Programme that is targeted at producing students with global mindsets in facing future challenges, which has already started its selection process for approximately 100 students earlier.

“The emphasis would be on producing graduates who would embrace the characteristics of HEBAT or possess values such as being ‘Holistic’, ‘Entrepreneurial’ in having the character of an entrepreneur, ‘Balanced’ or in equilibrium, ‘Articulate’ and ‘Thinker’ or being thoughtful –with USM working together with local and global partners – especially through various networks with many universities around the world as well as multinational companies and GLCs which would offer us assistance.

“We really hope that our graduates are able to fulfil the demands for talents worldwide in the near future, befitting our aspiration of We Lead, Driving Excellence,” stressed Omar.

Both the USM Chancellor DYMM Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Ibni Al-Marhum Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail and the Raja Perempuan of Perlis DYMM Tuanku Tengku Fauziah binti Al-Marhum Tengku Abdul Rashid were present at the ceremony.

Others who attended were the Minister of Research, Technology and Higher Education Indonesia, Professor Dr. Mohamad Nasir and wife, USM Pro-Chancellor, Tan Sri Datuk Mustafa Mansur, Chairman of the USM Board of Governors, Tan Sri Datuk Dr. Zulkefli A. Hassan and Chairperson of K.L.E. Society, India, Dr. Prabhakar Basaprabhu Kore.

Translation: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin

Text: Mohamad Abdullah