PENANG, 27 May 2016 – The APEX Scholar Programme, initiated under the five-year development framework of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) would be a new brand to reflect the excellence of the university.

USM Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato' Dr. Omar Osman said that, society views the university highly and that the public perception needs to be preserved accordingly. 

He said that, the public sees USM as an institution of quality and truly the selection of the pioneer 56 APEX Scholar candidates would be an asset in realising the excellence that the university is striving for. 

"We would like to see in the next five years for the pioneering group to become HEBAT graduates with attributes such as being Holistic, Entrepreneurial, Balance, Articulate and Thinking."

"In order to achieve this, USM would prepare a supportive ecosystem that is capable of providing them with the necessary training to produce 'the future of the future'," he said.

He stated that in the briefing, and later followed by presentation of appointment certificates to the pioneering batch of APEX Scholars here recently.

Also present at the ceremony was the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Development Affairs and Alumni - HEPA), Professor Dato' Dr. Adnan Hussein.

Omar also said that, as this programme was the first to be introduced, the university is confident of it being realised and improved from time to time. 

"We are confident that within the next 10 years, USM would be capable of developing HEBAT graduates of outstanding character, distinguished leadership as well as being competitive and is able to face any challenge," he said.

Meanwhile, the APEX Scholar Programme is a flagship initiative to strategically develop the intellectual and leadership capabilities of selected students, developing those with talents and highly-motivated to become competitive, possessing leadership qualities and exhibiting good character.

Pioneers of the APEX Scholar Programme have been selected through an intensive selection process among candidates possessing excellent academic qualifications and having good character.

The programme is also aimed to develop students to be SUPER (stand out, unique, prolific, exemplary, rare) HEBAT, to be implemented together with HEPA as the Secretariat and the Centre for Development of Academic Excellence & Student Development (CDAE), Academic Schools, industries and external strategic partners of USM.

Translation: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin

Text: Marziana Mohamed Alias / Photo: Muhammad Sadiq Za'im Zaharin (Internship student)