KUTPM 2nd Convocaton, February 25, 2006
Her Royal Highness the Chancellor of KUTPM, the Chairman, and the President of KUTPM. Graduating students. Ladies and gentlemen. A very good morning to you. It is indeed an honour to be invited by KUTPM, and further to be given this opportunity to speak on this auspicious occasion.
We at Armstrong Atlantic State University are pleased to note, that our partnership with KUTPM, has to date taken both to greater heights. It is certainly exciting to see a higher-learning institution like KUTPM grow, to become a university to be reckoned with in Malayasia.
KUTPM's innovativeness at crafting programs of study, which ensure employability of its graduates, is exemplary. During the past few visits to KUTPM, I have had the opportunity to give lectures, and work with many of the faculty members. I am pleased to note that on each of my visits, there is always something refreshing to look forward to.
Ladies and gentlemen ... the demise of the ICT sector, upon the collapse of the dot com companies, during the last economic crash in Asia, has given birth to the emergence of other challenging areas of ICT. We have seen that KUTPM has been quick enough to capitalize on this and henceforth, created programs of study, which are industry relevant. It is this rapid response coupled with a creative and innovative teaching strategy that I believe will pave the way towards making KUTPM the Malaysian version of an "Ivy League Institution" --- if I may.
Armstrong Atlantic State University definitely looks forward to rejuvenating its current cordial relationship with KUTPM. I am certain that given the ever-expanding environment of the technology sector, the possiblities of what we can both explore and deliver is limitless. Such healthy partnership will not only benefit the students, but also bridge the gap of the technology-divide era.
My sincerest congratulations to the graduating students, and may your current success motivate you to go higher in times to come. May I invite you to ponder a famous quote from an American President: "Ask not, what your country can do for you, ask, what you can do, for your country."
May I also take this opportunity to congratulate KUTPM's President Professor Dato Shukri, and his team for the entrepreneurship, vision, and determination to make KUTPM a university of choice in this region. Likewise, my sincerest congratulations to Her Royal Highness the Chancellor for her commitment and guidance in ensuring the prosperity of KUTPM.
Thank you.