By: Noor Eszereen Juferi
Photo: Mohd Hasrul Hamdan
SERDANG, 18 June (UPM) – The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Alumni and Student Affairs Department) of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Prof. Dr. Mohammad Shatar Sabran, has called on his staff to improve service quality to the students as they are the main stakeholders of the university
He said the main mission of the Alumni and Student Affairs Department (HEPA) and all the entities under the department is to ensure that UPM students attain excellence not only in academic results but also in personality through continuous engagement with these students.
“HEPA also acts as the students’ support system, a family and a friend to help students to reach their goal, while being vigilant against outside elements which may try to influence and take advantage of them,” he said in his policy speech to mark his 100 days in office, at the Dewan Harmoni, Kolej Kelima UPM.
Prof. Dr. Mohammad Shatar, 46, promoted to become the new Deputy VC (HEPA) for three years starting from 15 March, 2013.
In addition, he has recommended that the minimum merit points needed by a student to live in a residential college be increased to 80 percent.
“A total of 60 percent will be on college activities, 15 percent on university and club/association activities and 10 percent on the faculty activities.
He has also introduced a star rating system to evaluate performance and implementation of quality environment practices by all HEPA entities.
“I hope that HEPA and its entities will take the lead in the development of the students and give priority to the question of ‘integrity’ in the ‘human development’ of these UPM students,” he said.
He also underscored the need for the residential colleges to organize and prioritize its high-impact activities to ensure that the students achieved a CGPA 3.0 and a proficiency in English.
“These moves are to build the student’s personality and experience along with a high academic performance so that they will become marketable UPM graduates,” he added.
He also proposed that more platforms to be provided for students to interact with the management such as dialogue sessions, roundtable discussions and even informal meetings with him, as he will give continuous support for high-impact student programmes and activities.
Prof. Dr. Mohamad Shatar was the Director of the Co-curriculum and Student Development Centre in 2006 till his present appointment.
He has an American Associate Degree from Indiana University of Bloomington, Bachelor and Master of Science in Community and Regional Planning from Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa as well as Ph.D from the University of Missouri, Colombia. -- UPM
nej//kam/ee/kgo
