News and pictures Rozita Ramli
BERTAM, 25 September 2025: The College of Business (COB) and Othman Yeop Abdullah Graduate School of Business (OYAGSB), Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), successfully hosted the Northern Chapter Alumni Hi-Tea, uniting nearly 200 alumni in an evening of celebration, networking, and inspiration.
In his address, Dean of OYAGSB, Prof. Dr Hassan Bakar, underscored the significance of the gathering as the first-ever joint alumni event between COB and OYAGSB. He emphasised that the occasion was not only a celebration of alumni achievements, but also a reaffirmation of UUM’s vision “to be an eminent management university.”
He also highlighted OYAGSB’s international milestones, including its dual accreditations from AACSB and AMBA, it’s recognition as globally ranked MBA provider, and the historic accreditation of its Master in Business Management (MBM) programme, the first non-MBA in Malaysia to be accredited by AMBA.
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of five alumni awards, honouring outstanding contributions in the categories of Distinguished Alumni, Young Achiever, Ambassador, Entrepreneurial Excellence, and Social Impact. Each recipient’s journey reflected the diverse ways in which COB and OYAGSB alumni are shaping industries and communities
Among them, PMgr Sr Hj Che Had Dhali, Chairman of Bina Darul Aman Berhad and recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award, delivered an inspiring talk on leadership and resilience. Meanwhile, Dr Suzana, representing the alumni, shared her personal journey and urged fellow alumni to give back to the their alma mater through guest lectures, mentorship, and other forms of engagement.
The evening’s lively atmosphere was further enhanced by stage performances and lucky draws, fostering camaraderie and joy among attendees.
Prof. Dr Hassan reaffirmed that alumni are the “lifeblood of the university” and called for stronger collaboration to sustain the legacy of COB and OYAGSB. The event concluded on a note of optimism, with the alumni network, now over 13,000 strong, poised to continue to making a meaningful impact on industries, communities, and society at large.
