Raja Muda of Kedah Awards Bachelor’s Degrees to First Graduates of Three New Programmes at UUM
SINTOK, 10 November 2025 — The 38th Convocation Ceremony of Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) marked a historic milestone as it celebrated the first cohort of graduates from three newly introduced programmes namely the Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and Information Technology, the Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary Literature and Creative Industry Management, and the Bachelor of Applied History.
His Royal Highness Tengku Sarafudin Badlishah Ibni Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin, the Raja Muda of Kedah and Pro-Chancellor of UUM, graciously conferred degrees upon 716 graduates, including those from the new programmes, during the second session of the ceremony held at Mu’adzam Shah Hall this morning.
In his royal address, His Royal Highness urged the graduates to uphold the value of integrity and to remain lifelong learners in order to build a principled and competitive society.
“Do the right thing even when no one is watching. Integrity is your most valuable asset. In a world full of pressure and temptation to take shortcuts, integrity will be your guide and protector.
A person’s reputation takes years to build but can be tarnished in an instant. Therefore, I urge all graduates to always uphold honesty and fairness,” he said.
His Royal Highness also addressed the growing issue of gender imbalance in higher education, a phenomenon evident both globally and locally. Citing World Bank Group data, he noted that women now account for about 55 percent of university students worldwide, while in Malaysia, the figure reached 59 percent in 2024.
“At UUM, a management-focused university, this disparity is even more pronounced, with 70 percent of students being women compared to only 30 percent men,” he added.
While welcoming the increased participation of women, His Royal Highness emphasised the importance of encouraging more men to pursue higher education through initiatives such as mentoring, academic support, and inclusive, gender-sensitive policies.
He further reminded graduates not to fear challenges and to remain open to lifelong learning.
“Graduates should always be ready to give back—to the university, their families, their communities, and ultimately, to the nation. Use the knowledge and skills you have gained to serve society, be exemplary role models, and inspire others,” he said.
Concluding his address, His Royal Highness quoted Mahatma Gandhi’s timeless words:
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
