University's first chancellor

Taylor’s University completes the rites of passage into a full-fledged university when it proclaimed its first chancellor, Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Syed Jalaludin Syed Salim at Taylor’s convocation ceremony held recently.

An academic of illustrious background, Dr Syed Jalaludin holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree from London University and was the former vice-chancellor of Universiti Putra Malaysia.

He was also the National Science Laureate and National Academician in 1993 and 2008 respectively.

In his closing address at the convocation ceremony, Dr Syed Jalaludin said students must be intentional learners who extend their learning curve beyond the classrooms.

“The university’s commitment to the Taylor’s Graduate Capabilities programme aims to train students to be more than academically capable,” he said.

On another note, Dr Syed Jalaludin lauded the impending launch of Ruemz, the 84-room-hotel-in-a-campus at Taylor’s Lakeside Campus.

“The hotel will be a good training ground for students as it will be fully operated by the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts,” he said.

“The well-established hospitality programme at Taylor’s supports the needs of the booming tourism industry in the country,” he added.

Taylor’s was upgraded from university college to university status last year.

A total of 624 graduates from the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts, School of Architecture, Building and Design, School of Communication and Taylor’s Business School received their scrolls from Dr Syed Jalaludin at the graduation ceremony. — By KANG SOON CHEN