University marks a decade of cross-cultural education

For biotechnology graduate Ng Boon Ful, choosing the right university can lay the foundation for high-quality learning and a successful career, especially amid rapid technological development.

With a thirst for multidisciplinary knowledge combining biology, chemistry, physics, and oceanography, Ng chose Xiamen University Malaysia, a renowned and highly regarded name in the sciences, he explained on the sidelines of his recent graduation ceremony.

"Marine biotechnology is different and unique compared with programs related to marine science at other universities," he said, saying that the field usually focuses on marine science in general or marine agriculture.

"This marine biotechnology course offered a greater variety of knowledge … This is a unique program that is very hard to find at other universities in Malaysia," he said, adding that he would recommend it to others interested in the field.

Ng noted that the university also gave him access to a valuable exchange program with China, providing access to a variety of specialized equipment and broadening his education to include marine chemistry, environmental science, and other aspects of the field. "When I participated in the study exchange programs at Xiamen University and in China, I was very impressed," he said.

The university held the first ceremony of its eighth convocation on Oct 10, with 1,677 students graduating from 23 undergraduate and seven postgraduate programs, including 978 local Malaysian students and 699 international students.

In attendance were the chief executive officer of the Malaysian Qualifications Agency, Mohammad Shatar Sabran, and Xiamen University president, Hu Wenping.

In his remarks to the graduates, Hu reminded them of the importance not only of academic qualifications but also of growing as human beings with a broad global outlook to better prepare them for the rapidly changing world they will be entering as employees.

"What Xiamen provides is precisely a multicultural environment, where students from more than 50 countries and regions learn and interact … Years of multicultural immersion have taught you to understand differences, respect diversity, and collaborate responsibly across cultures. What this experience has given you is not just a broad perspective, but also the ability to live, work, and create with people from different cultural backgrounds," he said.

For his part, Mohammad Shatar urged the graduates to adopt a view that will help them build bridges as they continue their careers, whether locally or abroad, and to use what they have learned to build lasting bonds: "You are graduating from a university that represents something bigger: a bridge. A bridge between Malaysia and China. A bridge between East and West. A bridge between cultures. A bridge between knowledge and opportunity. And increasingly, a bridge between education and the future," he said.

The university welcomed its first batch of students in 2016. Over the past decade, it has made remarkable progress, with the campus hosting more than 10,800 students from 53 countries and regions. The university's strength has made its graduates favored not only by Chinese companies and their overseas branches but also by international companies seeking to expand into the Asian market.