Malvin (third from left), Josepha (fourth from left) and their peers wait for their turn to receive their scroll outside the hall yesterday.
KOTA KINABALU: A total of 795 students graduated from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Sabah branch yesterday.
The diploma and degree students were from six faculties at the UiTM branch here, said the university’s pro chancellor, Tun Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Ahmadshah Abdullah during the 86th convocation ceremony yesterday.
To date, UiTM had already produced 715,794 alumni who were now working at various sectors and industry, he said.
He also said that since it was established 61 years ago, the university had attained both local and international recognition.
“Networking memoranda are also being carried out with both local and international institutions that can help improve students’ mobility, improve research quality, as well as for the sharing of expertise and others,” he said.
“We believe that this excellence will give the added value in putting UiTM in the world ranking.”
Meanwhile, throng of family members of graduates who would be receiving their scrolls yesterday began arriving as early at 8am at the UiTM campus near here.
“It has been a challenging journey getting here. But all the sacrifices and hardships had been worth it,” said Josepha Maria Bulohuk, one of the Accounting Degree graduates.
She added that she enjoyed her course, despite the difficulties.
“I have not regretted taking up the course one bit because it is something I wanted to learn,” said the lanky lass from Penampang.
Her fellow graduates, Malvin Muhanen, from Ranau, concurred with her on the difficulties one had to endure studying accounting.
“Many times, we have to endure sleepless nights because there were simply so much work and we had to prepare for quizzes and presentations,” he said.
“But this is one of the courses that offers plenty of job opportunities since all companies must have its accounts,” he added.
Hence, it was not surprising at all when Malvin declared that he was already employed.
“Most of my peers who took accounting are already employed,” he said.
And the salary for a fresh accounting graduate is also not that bad.
“It is above RM2,000 (per month),” he said.
Science Diploma student, Noryhati Hassan, also expressed her gratitude to her mother for her support throughout her years of study.
“We are not from a well-to-do family and my mother raised us on her own. I hope to improve my family’s condition through education,” said Noryhati, who was also awarded the vice-chancellor award yesterday.
She added that she would embark on a degree course in Chemical Engineering at the UiTM campus in Shah Alam after this.