GROUP PORTRAIT: A group photo comprising students, parents and lecturers after the Awards Day ceremony with Chief Operating Officer of UCSI University Sarawak Campus Madam Lu Huong Ying (third from left, front row), Dean of Hospitality & Tourism Managemen

PROUD MOMENT: Michelle Kong Suet Mei (right) – back from her internship at the renowned Niseko Village Ski Resort in Hokkaido, Japan – receiving the Deputy Vice Chancellor Award from Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs and Research) Professor Emerit

KUCHING: UCSI University Sarawak Campus – the leading private university in the region for Hospitality and Tourism Management – recently honoured 28 students during its Annual Awards Day Ceremony; a testament to the fact that the University’s innovative pedagogy of work-based learning (WBL) has produced promising leaders in the field. 

Held on campus grounds, the event served as a platform to recognise high-achieving students in academics, sports and extracurricular activities. Approximately 30 guests – including the Dean of Hospitality & Tourism Management Dr Li Jian Yao and the University’s Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs and Research) Professor Emeritus Dr Lim Koon Ong, who delivered the keynote address – were present at the event. 

Chief Operating Officer of the Sarawak Campus Madam Lu Huong Ying, who was also in attendance, congratulated the award recipients and highlighted: “(Today), a certificate is not enough; students should pick up leadership and communication skills during their journey of learning.” 

Professor Emeritus Dr Lim shared similar sentiments in his speech while presenting the Deputy Vice Chancellor Award to students, adding that students who received the award were walking testimonies that it was not an impossibility to succeed both inside and outside the classroom. 

“Being academically successful requires more than just an individual effort,” explained Professor Emeritus Dr Lim. “We (need and) value support from our family, friends, lecturers and administrative staff.” 

The students who received the Deputy Vice Chancellor Award were Bong Ming Jien, Michelle Kong Suet Mei, Darren Chen Jenn Yih and Teng Jing Shi. 

Having completed her six-month internship in Japan, Michelle Kong was quick to heap effusive praise on the University: “UCSI recognises our hard work! The internship went well for me and it was nice to be able to do my placement in a foreign country,” said the bubbly teenager, who will soon pursue her Master’s at the University of Nottingham. 

Among the awards that were presented include the ‘24 Dean’s List’ to students who earned a score of more than 80 percent respectively in four subjects and four ‘Deputy Vice Chancellor Award’ to those who scored above 80 percent or more in all four subjects and obtained a GPA of 3.70 and above, in addition to other awards for active engagement in extracurricular activities, sports, cultural events and performances, to name a few. 

Both students and parents alike who attended the event expressed that they were proud of the honours.