PENANG, 23 October 2018 – The Raja of Perlis, HRH Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin ibni Al-Marhum Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail recently officiated the 56th Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Convocation Ceremony at the university main campus in Penang.

The Raja of Perlis, who is the USM Chancellor, presented 593 graduands with their Doctoral and Master’s degrees on the first day. The following days would see Master’s, Bachelor’s and Diploma degrees being awarded to other graduands, totalling 6,979.

This Convocation also sees USM awarding two leading figures with Honorary Degrees and another two honoured as Emeritus Professor. The Honorary Doctor of Industry was awarded to Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Tan King Tai@ Tan Khoon Hai and the Honorary Doctor of Education Management awarded to Dato’ Sri Ibrahim bin Ahmad. Two other academics honoured with Emeritus Professor were Professor Dr. Mashhor Mansor and Professor Tan Sri Dato’ Dzulkifli Abdul Razak.

Others who were present at the ceremony included the USM Pro-Chancellors, Tan Sri Datuk Mustafa Mansur and Tan Sri Dato' Dr. Jegathesan Manikavasagam; USM Board of Governors Chairman, Dr. Hari Narayanan P Ondiveeran; USM Vice-Chancellor, Professor Datuk Dr. Asma Ismail; Heads of Departments; distinguished guests and key university officials. 

The convocation would be held from 23rd until 28th October 2018. A day earlier, the USM ConvEx (Convocation Expo) was launched by Tan Sri Dato' Dr. Jegathesan Manikavasagam at the main campus grounds. 

The Convocation Ceremony is an annual event, honouring the graduands who have completed their studies in their respective fields. USM, as the second oldest university in the country, was established in 1969 and held its first convocation ceremony in 1972.

Text: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin