WOU has recognised the contributions of Malaysia’s eminent archaeologist, Emeritus Prof Dato’ Dr Zuraina Abdul Majid, with the award of an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humanities during its Convocation ceremony held at the stunning seaside campus on 25 November 2023.
WOU’s Board of Governors Chairman Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon highlighted the many achievements of the “nation’s first professionally trained archaeologist” in a career spanning over five decades.
He said, “This prestigious accolade recognises her pioneering work in Malaysian archaeological research and many outstanding contributions to the preservation and promotion of Malaysia’s rich prehistoric past and cultural heritage.”
He mentioned her ground-breaking discoveries at archaeological sites, including the Niah Caves in Sarawak, the 10,000-year-old intact skeleton of the “Perak Man”, and Kota Tampan, a 74,000-year-old Paleolithic stone tool site in Lenggong Valley, Perak.
“Dr Zuraina was instrumental in many ways in helping Melaka and George Town to be successfully added as Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca on the much-coveted UNESCO World Heritage List in 2008,” he emphasised.
He added that it was especially significant to award her the honorary degree in the year that George Town’s status as a heritage site celebrates its 15th anniversary.
He said Dr Zuraina, 79, remains active as a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences, Malaysia, and the heritage advisor to the Sultan of Selangor.
WOU Chief Executive and Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Lily Chan shared that WOU will produce 803 graduates during the two-day convocation ceremonies, with 172 from the postgraduate programmes and 631 from the undergraduate programmes, increasing the total alumni to 8,081. “Eighty percent of our graduates are below 40 years old,” she stressed.
She also highlighted the award of the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree to 10 graduates, who are captains of industry and leaders in their respective fields. The dissertations of the DBA graduates were based on their leadership roles and work experiences in such industries as manufacturing, hospitality and IT.
Among the graduating DBA students was valedictorian Ir Dr Bernard Lim Kee Weng, 50. He is the Chief Operating Officer in Penang of Appscard Group AS, a technology startup company from Norway.
Jimmy Chow Kong Fatt, 67, a veteran hotelier from Kuala Lumpur, will also be receiving his DBA degree. Chow has been a consultant director for the past eight years at Hotel Concept Consultancy, where he provides advisory services for hotel start-ups and rebranding initiatives, and conducts training programmes on hotel management. Mr E Swee Yong, 53, is the managing director of Junzo Sdn Bhd, in Puchong, Selangor.
Prof Chan said that the highest number of graduates came from the Bachelor of Business (Hons) in Accounting (92) and the Commonwealth Executive MBA (82) programmes. She shared that WOU offers study disciplines ranging from business to education, engineering, construction, manufacturing, IT, and so forth.
She also congratulated the three medal award winners. Venothkumar Selvarajoo, 35, of Kuala Lumpur, was awarded the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Memorial Gold Prize for being the best postgraduate open distance learning (ODL) student. He graduated from the MBA in Construction Management (MBACM) programme. He works with SSF Ingenieure AG as an expert in traction power supply, and is presently involved in the electrified standard gauge railway project in Tanzania.
The recipient of the Chancellor’s Gold Medal for top ODL student at the undergraduate-level was Phang Jing Mei, 40, of Penang, who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Psychology (BAPS) degree. She runs her own baking business after having left her job as an Account Relationship Manager in an MNC gas company to concentrate on her degree studies.
The Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik Memorial Gold Prize for top full-time degree programme student went to Janice Lim Ee Lin, 24, of Penang. She works as a junior software engineer at MYwave Sdn Bhd in Gelugor, after having successfully completed the Bachelor of Software Engineering (Hons) degree.
