Within these few weeks, there is a noticeable presence of banners and advertisements being put up on fences facing the streets and in the media, highlighting convocations of institutions of higher education around the country.

Those having anyone on the graduation list would be just as excited as the graduands themselves in anticipation of the ceremony, commonly held between two to five days, depending on the number of graduating candidates and on a large scale to welcome the dignitaries as well as the public, most notably the proud parents.

Generally, any dictionary would define ‘convocation’ as a gathering of a group of people for a specified ceremony. At some universities, it would be to commemorate a graduation of students, while others would have it to welcome the new intakes.

As said by the Dean and Director of Ohio State University (Mansfield campus), Dr. Stephen M Gavazzi, it is about celebrating the group of students, be they the graduating batch who would have excelled in their studies and having a better outlook on life, or the newcomers who would be eager to discover and orient themselves with the routines and the new settings. It is all about the circle of students with scholarly pursuits, as they form the essence of the university.

In referring to its Latin origin, ‘convocare’ meaning ‘to call together’, a convocation would reinforce the idea that the graduands belong to a much larger community. The community would witness, assess and harness the contributions of the graduands as they become part of the nation’s workforce of the future. It is the recognition given for the graduands’ years of study and dedication, their development and accomplishment which would be celebrated by the community.

Convocation ceremonies would normally be filled with traditions and symbolisms, from the robes and caps, to other additional forms of acknowledgements. The ceremony is where the graduands would take their place as those who have done so in the past, for their scholarly and academic achievements. It is a meaningful moment of merriment not to be missed.

It is also about saying goodbyes to fellow classmates who have provided support and relief, and academicians who have offered guidance in the path towards success. As the ceremony ends, the graduands will officially join the ranks of the university alumni, who can continue to contribute to the institution in the future.

We wish the graduands of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) to have a wonderful time this year at the 55th Convocation ceremony, scheduled to be held from 28 October to 2 November 2017. Take pride as you receive your scrolls from the USM Chancellor or Pro-Chancellors who would preside over each session. Take the time too to rejoice, and to look ahead towards having an active participation in career advancements and leadership opportunities, as you aspire to take up the challenge of the university motto 'WE LEAD' and to inspire others to live and sustain a life full of worth and significance. 

Text: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin