| Universiti Putra Malaysia

COVID-19 does not deter UPM students

By: Najwa Harun and Nurul Aini Abdul Razab

 

SERDANG, Nov 20 – The COVID-19 pandemic does not dampen the spirit of the students from Kolej Tun Dr Ismail (KTDI), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), from continuing the Connecting KTDI UPM-Kolej Cempaka, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) programme online.

Programme director, Radhi Amir, said the three-day programme aimed to strengthen the UPM-UNIMAS alliance by encouraging the exchange of ideas at the national level through the approach in the new normal.

“Although the implementation method of this programme has changed, it was able to achieve its original purpose of empowering the prominence of the socio-cultural element between the KTDI and Kolej Cempaka, UNIMAS, students leading to the proliferation of ideas in students,” he said.

Also present at the Connecting KTDI UPM – Kolej Cempaka, UNIMAS Programme were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (HEPA), UPM, Prof. Dr. Arifin Abdu; Deputy Vice-Chancellor (HEPA), UNIMAS, Prof. Dr.  Kamarudin Kana; Principal of Kolej Cempaka, UNIMAS, Mohd Hafizan Hashim; Chairperson of the Principal Council, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Amini Amir Abdullah; former Principal of Kolej Tun Dr Ismail, Prof. Dr. Sidek Abd Aziz; UPM and UNIMAS fellows, College Representative Council, Kolej Tun Dr Ismail and College Representative Committee, Kolej Cempaka.

Prof. Dr. Arifin in his speech emphasised six aspects that should be given due consideration, namely agriculture, digitalisation, entrepreneurship, nationalist spirit and internationalisation.

“The implementation of programmes at the international level such as this can lift students to becoming graduate leaders in the future,” he said.

Prof. Dr. Kamarudin hopes that such a programme can be developed further because students’ leadership talents can be better honed and polished. 

“Student leaders at the college level are given a huge responsibility to ensure their leadership skills remain sharpened during the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

Meanwhile, the session ‘Life on Land: Let’s Plogging’ focused on knowledge sharing regarding the spirit of volunteerism and external relations conducted by the invited panel of Psychology Officer from UPM Teaching Hospital (HPUPM), Rafidah Sadarudin, had successfully involved a total of 445 participants via Zoom.  

Rafidah said plogging activities are essential because they protect the environment from rubbish piles caused by human negligence.

“We do not need to be ashamed to do this as it will only bring awareness to the community that maintaining environmental sustainability is a shared responsibility,” she said.  - UPM

 

 

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