8th Convocation- Living the Spirit of Lifelong Learning (24 Aug 2008)
a group of graduates
For many aspiring engineers, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) is the first choice. Ir. Dr. Chan Tuck Leong is a good example. He has spent 12 years in the institution - first as an undergraduate then completing his MSc and PhD at the university. Soon after Chan, 30, obtained a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, he wanted to carry on studying and was determined to obtain a PhD.
“I had a goal. I wanted a doctorate by the time I was 30. Once I had put my mind to it, I didn’t stop until I achieved the target.”
Chan completed his undergraduate degree in 2001, and whilst working, pursued and completed his master’s in 2004 and the PhD this year, all in chemical engineering,
“Many people don’t understand my pursuit of a PhD, since my job does not require one. “I always say I did it because I wanted to and it’s because of my interest in the research topic,” says the part-time student.
Chan is the first student to earn all three degrees from UTP. In his PhD thesis titled “Inherent Safety Intervention Framework”, he proposed a novel methodology to improve a particular design’s safety, especially prior to manufacturing. The methodology capitalises on process stimulators and enhances process safety management to reduce overall lifecycle costs.
“I could have completed my postgraduate studies elsewhere but since UTP was equipped with all the necessary facilities and the fact that I was comfortable with the lecturers, made me decide to complete my education here,” says Chan. Chan’s success has proven that working life is no barrier to life long learning.
Chan is currently the Head of Gas Technology, Gas Business Unit, PETRONAS and is the secretary of the Chemical Engineering Technical Division at the Institution of Engineers Malaysia.
(left)Ir Dr Chan Tuck Leong - the first student to earn all three degrees from UTP ,(right) three Chancellor Award recipients
Chan’s success story is also shared with the other 1088 students who graduated in their respective fields of studies in this year’s UTP 8th Convocation Ceremony. Out of this figure, 1016 were undergraduates from various programmes i.e Chemical Engineering (246), Civil Engineering (159), Electrical & Electronics Engineering (199), Mechanical Engineering (207), Business Information Systems (77) and Information & Communication Technology (128). 69 graduates received Master of Science from Petroleum Engineering (19), Petroleum Geoscience (17), Electrical & Electronics Engineering (11), Chemical Engineering (4), Civil Engineering (9), Mechanical Engineering (3) and Information Technology (6). This year’s Convocation Ceremony had also witnessed 1 graduate from Civil Engineering and 3 graduates from Chemical Engineering being conferred with the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Engineering. All graduates received their scrolls from UTP’s Chancellor, Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad at the University’s Chancellor Hall.
(left) Convocation Dinner, (right) The Chancellor & wife visiting the Academic Exhibition at the Convofair
The ceremony was also attended by member’s of the university’s Board of Directors and PETRONAS Management Committee members including the President and CEO of PETRONAS who is also the Pro-Chancellor of the University, Tan Sri Dato’ Seri (Dr) Mohd Hassan Marican and also the Rector / Chief Executive Officer of the University, Datuk Dr Zainal Abidin Haji Kasim.
This year’s Chancellor Awards were presented to Anniza Soh Ai Mei bt Razali Roger Soh Cheng from Civil Engineering for Gold, Mohd Hafiz b Hashim from Business Information Systems for Silver and Nor Azizi b Azizan from Electrical & Electronics Engineering for Bronze.
In conjunction with the convocation ceremony, UTP and the Student’s Representative Council had also organised a three-day festivity at its campus in Bandar Seri Iskandar. Various activities took place during the ConvoFair which included activities like performances by guest artistes M Nasir, Nabil and also competitions like Treasure Hunt, Paintball, archery, sepaktakraw and many more.
