‘The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows’
– American journalist, Sydney J. Harris.
My nephew’s son is among 898 students who signed up for pre-university studies at Universiti Sarawak Malaysia (UNIMAS) recently.
When I shared a picture of the young man, his mother and elder sister at the university, my younger sister remarked on the similarities between Kevin and his father, Ah Lai. This certainly proves that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
I understand from Ah Lai that his son wants to be an engineer. That is an interesting career. So far, there are no engineers among my immediate family members.
According to Michigan Technological University, engineers apply scientific principles to analyse, design, invent, code, build and create to solve all sorts of problems and make the world a better place. And one of their most important tools is their own creativity.
I can’t wait for Kevin to graduate. I wonder how he will help make the world a better place.
Kevin is following his elder sister’s footsteps by pursuing his university studies at UNIMAS and hence, starting a new chapter in his life.
Both siblings were lucky to be accepted as students by the Malaysian public university located in Kota Samarahan which is not far from Kuching. Officially incorporated on December 24, 1992, UNIMAS was ranked among the top 200 in Asian University Rankings 2017 by QS World University Rankings.
I don’t know whether Kevin stays at the university or whether he goes home everyday. I have not been in touch with him or his father on the matter so far.
But attending a university near home definitely has many advantages. Kevin can save money on plane fares and stay close to his family and avoid homesickness.
He can go home during the public holidays. There is no culture shock and it is easier for him to adapt to a change in routine in a familiar place. It is also easier for his family members to visit him when they miss him.
Sarawak students are lucky that the state government have set up UNIMAS, one of the public universities in the state.
Sarawak also has a few private universities Curtin University Malaysia Sarawak Campus, Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, Centre of Technology Excellence Sarawak (CENTEXS) and i-CATS University College.
Public and private universities differ in several ways including funding, class size and tuition. Public universities are primarily funded by the government while private universities are funded by tuition, donations and other private sources. Because of this, public universities often have lower tuition fees.
When I was young, there were no public or private universities in Sarawak. Students continued their studies either in West Malaysia or overseas.
Because of the lack of finances, many of my friends and I did not go to universities. Instead, we had to look for jobs to support ourselves and our families.
Personally, I think every student should be given the chance to go to university. Acquiring higher studies can boost one’s confidence in personal and professional life. As the global job market becomes competitive, the importance of university education in life also increases.
Hence, I hope all the 898 students who have been accepted by UNIMAS will study hard and value the opportunity they have been given to make a difference to the world they are living in.
As they build their self-confidence and independence, the students will have lots of opportunities to make new friends from different countries and backgrounds in the university.
As local and international students engage, communicate and learn about one another, they will learn about different cultures, understand and appreciate them. This will indirectly promote diversity and inclusivity.
Living independently at the campus can also nurture an increased level of responsibility in the students,
Studies also show that students who live on campus tend to have higher grade point averages and become more involved with the campus community and eventually be part of the campus community.
At the Student Oath Taking Ceremony to welcome them to the Centre for Pre-University Studies (PPPU) for the 2024/2025 academic session recently, the new 898 students were reminded by UNIMAS Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr Ahmad Hata Rasit of the importance of academic excellence while maintaining humanitarian values.
“Higher education is not merely about knowledge gained from textbooks; it is also about character formation and honesty, which are the foundations of a successful life.
‘The element of compassion, which is also one of the pillars of Malaysia Madani, must always be instilled in the heart of every student.
‘As the next generation, students play a crucial role in transforming education from a mere academic routine into a fertile ground for producing responsible and competitive individuals,” he said.
This is good advice for the new students to bear in mind and ponder as they slowly adapt to university and campus life at UNIMAS. I hereby wish Kevin and his university mates a happy university life.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune
