Academic achievement: Sultan Sallehuddin handing over a scroll to the oldest graduate, Mohd Tahir Ahmad, 86, at the UUM convocation ceremony in Sintok. Mohd Tahir from Negri Sembilan achieved a doctorate in business administration. — Bernama
SINTOK: Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) has played a proactive role in introducing and implementing various targeted efforts to transform communities and society, says Kedah Ruler Sultan Al-Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah.
His Royal Highness said the community transformation activities carried out by the university were done either through development activities, professional training or consultancy.
“Indeed, UUM, which stands majestically in Sintok, is expected to continuously actively transform society through knowledge-transfer activities based on the principles of ‘Knowledge, Kindness and Service’,” the Ruler said at the 35th UUM convocation ceremony here yesterday.
Sultan Sallehuddin, who is also Tunku Chancellor of UUM, said the university, which was established in 1984, had been a driver of prosperity for the local population and benefited the people in Kedah and Malaysia as well as at the international level.
UUM, which is now almost 40 years old, was recognised as the 95th best university in the world under the 50-year-old universities category by Times Higher Education, Young University Rankings 2023, he said, Bernama reported.
This meant that UUM was placed as the number one best public university in Malaysia in the ranking, he added.
“Compared to the previous year, UUM’s position has now jumped from 170th to 95th best in the world.
“This achievement is based on the citation indicator as well as the achievement of maintaining high marks in the teaching and research categories,” Sultan Sallehuddin said.
The 35th UUM convocation ceremony, which will be held over nine sessions starting yesterday, would see a total of 6,694 graduates in 2022 receiving their scrolls, consisting of 5,743 bachelor’s graduates and 951 postgraduate studies graduates.
Also gracing yesterday’s ceremony were Raja Muda Kedah Tengku Sarafudin Badlishah Sultan Sallehuddin and Tunku Mahkota Kedah Tunku Shazuddin Ariff Sultan Sallehuddin.
Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor and UUM vice-chancellor Prof Dr Mohd Fo’ad Sakdan were also present.
