Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) once again created another history when the subject of Computer Science became the latest subject listed in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2019.

 The Vice-Chancellor of UUM, Professor Dr. Ahmad Bashawir Abdul Ghani said, the latest result released on 29 November has indirectly placed UUM among the world's top 601+ university for the subject. 

"This is another impressive achievement for the university and this success must be improved and maintained. Besides being listed for this subject, a university must produce at least 500 SCOPUS indexed publications for a period of five years.

"I sincerely hope that more subjects in UUM will also be listed in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject as this will subsequently increase the reputation of the university in the eyes of the world," he said.
 
The Times Higher Education Computer Science Subject Ranking 2019 adopts 13 indicators which are classified into five main categories i.e. Teaching: the learning environment (30%), Research: volume, income and reputation (30%), Citations: research influence (27.5%), International outlook: staff, students and research (7.5%), and Industry income: innovation (5%).
 
On the whole, five UUM subjects are listed in Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2019. Those subjects are - Business and Economics (Business and Management, Accounting and Finance and Economics and Econometrics), Social Sciences (Geography, Sociology, Communication and Media Studies and Politics and International Studies (including Development Studies), Arts and Humanities (Languages, Literature and Linguistics, Art, Performing Arts and Design and History, Philosophy and Theology), Physical Sciences (Mathematics and Statistics) and Computer Science.
 
The complete result of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings can be accessed at:
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/by-subject.

Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) graduates were told that task and the responsibility of seeking knowledge do not end on their day of graduation.

UUM Pro-Chancellor, Tun Dato' Sri (Dr.) Ahmad Fairuz Dato' Sheikh Abdul Halim said that as individuals, it is their responsibility to continue to pursue knowledge and more importantly, to implement what has been learnt for the benefit of universal community.
 
According to him, in Malay epic stories, knowledge seeking has always been a priority, for example in ancient times knowledge was sought through mentoring quests and meditation in caves as well as masters were also invited to teach the aristocrats in the palace.
 
He said the demands for knowledge seeking continued until such figures as Tun Seri Lanang, Munshi Abdullah, Al-Sheikh Al-Adib Ahmad Zain Al-Fatani, Hamzah Fansuri, Shamsuddin Al-Sumatrani and Sheikh Nuruddin Al-Raniri contributed much in developing the tradition of knowledge in the Malay world.
 
"Today, all graduates have succeeded in pursuing the path of exploring knowledge in more formal and structured forms, however, the struggle to pursue this knowledge tradition should not just end here today.
 
"The knowledge sought ought to be practiced and those who do not practice the knowledge gained,  will be a waste similar to that of dense trees, but not fruitful," he said at the last session of UUM's 31st Convocation Ceremony at Mu'adzam Shah Hall.
 
Pro-Chancellor said that the knowledge that can be practiced is knowledge learned with reason and heart, united in the soul and behaviour and can be beneficial to the life of the society as a whole.
 
According to him, to enable the learnt knowledge be practiced, graduates should engage in various community activities or community engagement.
 
He further reiterated that engagement in the community is a collaborative process with individuals or groups of the community that traversed geographical factors, interests and situations in dealing with issues related to the well-being of the community.
 
"It is a great mechanism that is capable of bringing about changes and enhancing the well-being of the community and serves as a catalyst for cooperation between members of the community in policy research and development.
 
He said, with knowledge, life would be easier and with religion, life would be more direct.
 
The ninth session which was also the last session saw presentation of degrees to 773 graduates comprising students of the Distance Education (PJJ) programme and students from collaborative programmes under the auspices of the Professional and Continuing Education Centre (PACE) and UUMKL.

Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) graduates were urged to eschew abuse of power and corruption, as these practices would hinder economic development and quality of life of the community.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Ahmad Bashawir Abdul Ghani said more and more evidences show that corruption has become one of the main reasons that stunt economic growth, lose the interest of investors, increase administrative costs and deny the people from getting services as well as prompt political instability.
 
"Many countries are bequeathed with a wealth of resources but because of corruption, the country becomes backwards and poor. If the country's wealth is misappropriated and its wealth vanishes, this may lead to further setback and poverty will continue to spread," he said.
 
He added that the lack of integrity has become part of the culture practiced by a number of community members in the country.
 
"Greed and egotistical attitude are also causes that contribute to such problem for individuals. With greed, one loses consideration when looking for ways to gain wealth while their ego will cause them to be blinded by their own weaknesses and make it difficult for them to receive reprimands," he explained.
 
According to the Vice-Chancellor this matter will indirectly impede the development of an institution.
 
Hence he implored that all graduates to take in lessons learnt from the abuse of power and corruption by adhering to the principle of integrity in order to become a dignified society and avoid the huge and long-lasting cost effects on the nation.
 
The Vice-Chancellor said this at the eighth session of the 31st. UUM Convocation Ceremony which saw a total of 845 graduates receiving their respective degrees.