‘WE MUST BECOME LIFE-LONG LEARNERS’

Never stop learning to improve skills, says MSU College president

HARIZ MOHD

SHAH ALAM harizm@nst.com.my

HIS love for cooking led a law graduate to enrol in a Culinary Art course four years ago, and it paid off when he was named MSU College’s best student yesterday. Muhammad Ikhwanul Amin Zainuddin, 30, received the college’s President Golden Award during its 21st graduation ceremony here.

Ikhwanul said he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Law and Commerce from Management and Science University (MSU) in 2010, a course which he pursued because his parents wanted him to become a lawyer.

“After I graduated, I secured a job at a law firm and worked there for about three years. However, I still kept my interest in culinary arts. In 2013, I decided to pursue my ambition to become a chef and enrolled at MSU College. I am glad I made that decision.”

Ikhwanul said his parents, who knew about his love for culinary arts, supported his decision. However, others were skeptical of him ditching law to become a chef.

“There were friends who said I was out of my mind. But, this is what I want to do.

“I told myself that it does not matter what others think of my decision.”

Ikhwanul, the third of six siblings, said the road to success was not easy, as he had to juggle between classes and working part-time at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur to finance his study.

He scored a 3.99 CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) and received a scholarship to pursue a Bachelor’s degree course in Culinary Arts at MSU.

For Royal Malaysian Navy personnel Noor Hazera Hashim, 27, the navy’s collaboration with MSU College came as a blessing as she not only obtained her first diploma, but also emerged as one of the best students in the Hotel Management Diploma course.

Noor Hazera said she was surprised to be a recipient of the college’s Academic Award with a 3.8 CGPA, and considered it another milestone in improving her personal capabilities.

The drive to become a better qualified person was the reason her coursemate, Sri Hazera Mohd Yusoff, 24, who scored a 3.82 CGPA, enrolled in the course and strove for excellence.

“I started working part-time after SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia), and decided to continue working instead of pursuing higher education.

“But, after two years and having tried various jobs, including as a waitress at restaurants and hotels, I told myself that I should get a better qualification to improve my livelihood.”

MSU and MSU College president Professor Tan Sri Dr Mohd Shukri Ab Yajid said he was impressed with the accomplishments of the graduates in their academic studies and industrial-readiness.

He said MSU College continued to excel in Technical and Vocational Education and Training.

A study by the Higher Education Ministry revealed that it was the institution with the highest rate of graduate employability of 98.6 per cent last year.

“What we do here is build human resources that are not only industry-ready, but also well-rounded and competitive.

“My advice to the graduates is never stop learning. This is how they can build their skills. We must be a life-long learner community.”