Universiti Tun Abdul Razak students at the university’s convocation at Premiera Hotel in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Pic by Muhd Zaaba Zakeria

KUALA LUMPUR: The daughter of a lorry driver received the Universiti Tun Abdul Razak’s (UniRazak) highest award, the Chancellor Award, during its 16th Convocation Ceremony held at Premiera Hotel here yesterday.

UniRazak Chancellor Tun Dr Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid presented the Chancellor Award to Nurul Atiqa Afandi, 22, Bachelor of Business Administration (Islamic Financial Planning), who graduated with a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.91.

Currently working as a management trainee in Public Bank, Atiqa was in seventh heaven when she received a call from her lecturer three weeks ago about the good news.

“Neither I nor my parents could believe when I first received the news that I was awarded the highest award in the convocation ceremony.

“I would say the most important key to success is to always believe in God and follow His ways.

“For me, that is most important, and also make sure you always have your parent’s blessings in everything you do,” she said .

She was among 321 graduates received their scrolls at the convocation ceremony.

Of the 321 postgraduates and undergraduates, three received their doctoral degrees, while 24 received their master’s degrees, continuing the trend of strong growth that UniRazak had enjoyed since its inception in 1997.

Also present were UniRazak pro chancellors Tan Sri Andrew Sheng Len Tao and Datuk Mohamed Nizam Abdul Razak.

UniRazak president and vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Seri Dr Md Zabid Abdul Rashid, in his speech, congratulated the graduates for choosing to further their studies in UniRazak.

“UniRazak has always been sensitive towards the needs of the people and the country. Besides offering quality and affordable education for all, we have been producing professional graduates who are competitive in the workforce.

“The quality, academic progress, as well as UniRazak’s position among other higher-learning institutions in Malaysia, has been recognised by the Higher Education Ministry in research and development, and we have also been rated four stars for the Malaysia Research Assessment Instrument, along with two public universities and three private universities,” he said yesterday.

Zabid also said 95 per cent of UniRazak graduates had been employed within three months of completing their studies, which showed UniRazak’s impressive track record .

During the ceremony, 11 graduates received the Best Academic Award. Three were from the Graduate School of Business, five from the Bank Rakyat School of Business and Entrepreneurship and three from the Tun Abdul Razak School of Government.

Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor Award was awarded to Nurul Adilah Mohammed Nordin, 25, Bachelor of Taxation, who graduated with a CGPA of 3.87. 

“I only knew yesterday that I would receive this prestigious award and even now I am still very much in shock. But, Alhamdullillah, I am very thankful for this honour,” she said.

Adilah advised aspiring graduates to always be focused in class and make efforts to do extra revision with friends.