First generation of B40 students are exempted from paying tuition fees

Samsudin Oli

Journalist and Assignment Editor for UUMTV .

Translated by Mahaliza Mahadhir (mahaliza@uum.edu.my)

SINTOK – A total of 388 students from various races and ethnicities, who are from the B40 family group at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) are exempted from paying tuition fees at the campus.

The Minister of Higher Education, Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said, the implementation of the Family’s First Student Development Programme (Sulung) is an initiative introduced by the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) to support the academic success of the first generation of the underprivileged B40 group.

“Through this programme each student will receive funding of up to RM833 per semester, totalling RM4,998 per person for the next six semesters of their studies,” he said after presenting mock cards to 10 students from the university.

All those who have been accepted into this initiative involved a diverse range of academic disciplines at the undergraduate level consisting of 188 new students alongside 200 individuals who have been granted PTPTN loan assistance and other forms of financial aid. The selection process for these individuals involved a thorough evaluation and verification conducted by the Student Affairs Department (JHEP).

During the ceremony, Uniutama Education and Consultancy Sdn. Bhd. (UECSB), a subsidiary of UUM, presented a mock cheque amounting to RM1.5 million in royalties to the Vice-Chancellor to finance the Sulung programme that has been organised.

Meanwhile, the Higher Education Leadership Academy (AKEPT) represented by its Director, Dato’ Prof. Dr Nasrudin Mohammed, presented a symbolic cheque amounting to RM109,000 to the Vice-Chancellor. The presentation of the mock cheque was witnessed by the minister, signifying a contribution towards UUM’s Innovation and Commercialisation Centre (ICC). The funds will be utilised to organise the Innovation Leadership and Intellectual Property Commercialisation Programme (InnoCoL). This programme aims to enhance the participants’ understanding of the strategic aspects and operational activities involved in the innovation and commercialisation of university intellectual property.

During his working visit to UUM campus, Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled also inaugurated the Special Student Centre or known as the Independent Living Centre (ILC PERMAI). This centre was established under the Development of Persons with Disabilities Department (JPOKU), Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM).

The National Special Student Organisation (PERMAI), an esteemed Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has been entrusted with the management of one of the ILCs called ILC PERMAI UUM. Incidentally, it stands as the sole facility of its kind situated within the university campus.

During the conclusion of the visit, Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled was also taken to visit the virtual classroom lecture room. It is a lecture room equipped with state-of-the-art multimedia facilities that provide support for the HYFLEX Programme, as proposed by MoHE.