Honorary degree for senior official
DATUK Zainal Abidin Haji Ahmad, a long-serving senior official in the Malaysian government, was awarded an honorary degree by The University of Nottingham at its graduation ceremony held on Feb 14 at The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus (UNMC).
“Datuk Zainal has extensive expertise and experience as a Malaysian civil servant,” said CEO and Provost of UNMC Professor Christine Ennew during the oratory.
“He has been instrumental in setting up the beautiful Malaysia campus we see today, working closely with Tengku Ahmad Rithaudeen, chairman of the University Board, some 20 years ago.
“He is an eminently worthy recipient of the university's doctorate of law,” said Professor Ennew.
Zainal is also a board member of The University of Nottingham in Malaysia Sdn Bhd and Syarikat ADP Teknologi Sdn Bhd, an associate company of Biwater PLC United Kingdom.
His career began in 1965 when he joined the diplomatic service after graduating with a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Singapore.
He served in the Malaysian civil service for 31 years, holding senior posts in the Prime Minister’s Department, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Negri Sembilan state government.
He was also based in Washington, DC, Dhaka and Bangkok for several positions, and served as the director-general of the Malaysian Timber Industry Board.
Zainal is currently the president of the Negri Sembilan Athletics Association, chairman of the organising committee of the annu- al Seremban Half Marathon and secretary general of the United Nations Association Malaysia.
UNMC graduation ceremony
The UNMC graduation ceremony witnessed the graduation of 250 postgraduate students from the Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences, Engineering and Science.
The event was hosted by Professor Sir David Greenaway, vice-chancellor of The University of Nottingham.
Professor Ennew witnessed the first cohort’s Degree of Master of Research programme graduation from the School of Geography.
“Graduation is an opportunity to celebrate and reflect on how you can use your education for the world,” said Professor Greenaway when addressing the graduates.
The graduation ceremony was also attended by Deputy Chairman and Group MD of Boustead Holdings Sdn Bhd Tan Sri Datuk Lodin Wok Kamaruddin, high court judge and Nottingham alumnus Prasad Abraham, Pro Chancellor of Universiti Teknologi MARA Tan Sri Nuraizah Hamid, Group Finance Director of Boustead Holdings Bhd Daniel Ebinesan, as well as Vice Provost (Teaching and Learning) Professor Stephen Doughty and Vice Provost (Research and Knowledge Transfer) Professor Graham Kendall of UNMC.
The University of Nottingham is one of the top choices for graduate recruitment among UK employers, according to a recent report by UK-based High Fliers Research.
Figures revealed that the university came second in the list of universities targeted by the largest number of top employers from 2014 to 2015.
The university also encourages students to have well-rounded experiences while studying, including participating in work placements.
Among these work placements are the Nottingham Advantage Award, which enables students to take extra-curricular modules alongside their academic studies, which build skills and experience.
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