SINTOK, 10 November 2025 — His Royal Highness Tunku Shazuddin Ariff Ibni Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin, the Tunku Mahkota of Kedah and Pro-Chancellor of Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), called on graduates to continually seek new knowledge, languages, and skills to enhance their competitiveness on the global stage.
His Royal Highness delivered the royal address during the third session of UUM’s 38th Convocation Ceremony, held this evening.
In his speech, His Royal Highness expressed concern over the declining number of male graduates, noting that this year 4,607 female graduates outnumbered 2,225 male graduates. As in previous years, 67 percent of the total graduates were women.
“The world will not stop moving forward, and many opportunities in the future will be led by professional women,” His Royal Highness remarked.
The Tunku Pro-Chancellor also underscored the importance of multilingual proficiency, describing languages as vital bridges that connect individuals to global opportunities and knowledge.
“In today’s increasingly open world of careers and business, the ability to communicate in multiple languages such as English, Mandarin, and Arabic is no longer merely an advantage, but rather a necessity,” His Royal Highness emphasized.
He further highlighted the growing significance of emerging industries, particularly in green technology and the circular economy, which are expected to generate vast opportunities in the years ahead.
In closing, His Royal Highness reminded graduates that their success does not mark the end of their academic journey, but rather the beginning of greater responsibilities to society and the nation.
“Be a generation that cares for the environment, thinks innovatively, and possesses a generous spirit to serve society and the country,” he urged.
During the afternoon session, a total of 709 graduates received their degrees from the Tunku Pro-Chancellor.
