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Senior civil servant conferred with Nottingham honorary degree

graduation-Feb-'15

Datuk Zainal Abidin Haji Ahmad, a long servicing senior official in the Malaysian Government was awarded with an honorary degree by The University of Nottingham at the Graduation Ceremony held on 14 February 2015 at The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus (UNMC).

“Datuk Zainal is a friend of the University and a Board member and it gives us great pleasure to welcome him into the family of the University of Nottingham graduates,” said Professor Christine Ennew, CEO and Provost of The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus while presenting the oratory.

“He has extensive expertise and experience as a Malaysian civil servant, holding senior posts in the Prime Minister’s Department, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Negeri Sembilan state government.

He as 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 and he is an eminently worthy recipient of the University's doctorate of law,” said Professor Ennew.

He 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.

Datuk Zainal’s career began in 1965 when he joined the diplomatic service after graduating with a bachelors degree from the University of Singapore. He served 31 years in the Malaysian civil service, holding senior posts in the Prime Minister’s Department, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Negeri Sembilan state government. He was also based at Washington DC, Dhaka and Bangkok for several positions. He was also the Director General of the Malaysian Timber Industry Board. 

Datuk Zainal is the President of the Negeri Sembilan Athletics Association, Chairman of the Organising Committee of the annual Seremban Half Marathon and Secretary General of the United Nations Association Malaysia.

UNMC Graduation Ceremony

UNMC graduation witnessed the graduation of 250 postgraduate students from The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences; Faculty of Engineering and Faculty of Science. The event was hosted by Professor Sir David Greenaway, Vice-Chancellor of The University of Nottingham and Professor Christine Ennew also witnessed the graduation of the first cohort of graduates from the Degree of Master of Research programme from the School of Geography.

“Graduation is an opportunity to celebrate and to reflect on how you can use your education for the world. As graduates of the university, you now belong to a community of 250,000 University of Nottingham alumni and as you enter the workforce, I encourage you to continue to engage with the University to help us recruit students of your high caliber and to engage the University for future businesses and research engagements with your employers,” said Professor Sir David Greenaway while addressing the graduates.

The graduation ceremony was also attended by Tan Sri Datuk Lodin Wok Kamaruddin, Deputy Chairman and Group Managing Director of Boustead Holdings Sdn Bhd; Yang Ariff Dr Prasad Abraham, court of appeal judge and Nottingham alumnus; Tan Sri Nuraizah Hamid, Pro Chancellor of Universiti Teknologi MARA; Daniel Ebinesan, Group Finance Director of Boustead Holdings Bhd; Professor Stephen Doughty, Vice Provost (Teaching & Learning) and Professor Graham Kendall, Vice Provost (Research & Knowledge Transfer) at 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 University of Nottingham came second in their list of universities targeted by the largest number of top employers in 2014-2015.

 

The University of Nottingham encourages and supports students to ensure they have a full-rounded experience whilst studying, which includes participating in work placements. This includes the Nottingham Advantage Award, which enables students to take extra-curricular modules alongside their academic studies, which build skills and experience.

The University’s Alumni Office organises regular development and networking events for its members. For further information, consult: www.nottingham.edu.my/alumni or email alumnirelations@nottingham.edu.my.

(Thumbnail image: Datuk Zainal and his wife Tan Sri Nuraizah with their daughters)

 

 

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For more information please contact, Josephine Dionisappu, PR &Communications Manager on josephine.dionisappu@nottingham.edu.my,+6(03)8924 8746.

 

The University of Nottingham  has 43,000 students and is ‘the nearest Britain has to a truly global university, with campuses in China and Malaysia modelled on a headquarters that is among the most attractive in Britain’ (Times Good University Guide 2014).It is also the most popular university in the UK among graduate employers, in the top 10 for student experience  according to the Times Higher Education and winner of ‘Research Project of the Year' at THE  Awards 2014. It is ranked in the world’s top one per cent of universities by the QS World University Rankings. 

 

Impact:The Nottingham Campaign, its biggest-ever fundraising campaign, is delivering the University’s vision to change lives, tackle global issues and shape the future. 

 

Posted on 16th February 2015

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