The Congregation (aka Convocation in Malaysia) celebrated the graduation of the 2010 cohort of MBBS graduates, and Newcastle University Indonesian students who had have completed their intercalated clinical research degrees at Newcastle.

The Minister was given a brief tour of the state-of-the-art campus and was a real hit with the students and their guests, stopping to be part of their ‘selfies’ along the way.

The Vice-Chancellor of Newcastle University, Professor Chris Brink, presided over the Congregation and reminded the new graduates about the ethos of the University where we strive for excellence and strive to contribute to civil society. He asked that they keep in mind two questions with whatever work they do in life: Is it good? And what is it good for?

Graduation success

Dato' gave a welcome address and congratulated the University on achieving its primary purpose of providing transnational access to an affordable world-class UK medical education for a broad range of Malaysian and international students here in Malaysia.

Accompanying Dato’ was the Secretary General, Ministry of Higher Education, Prof Dato’ Dr Zaini bin Ujang who is an Alumnus of Newcastle University.

Other special guests included Dr Teddy Prasetyono, from the University of Indonesia, who is in charge of selecting and supporting the intercalating MRes students, who were graduating, and Dr Robert Teoh, also an Alumnus of Newcastle University.

Dr Teoh – who is greatly supportive of the University and in particular NUMed – handed out awards for top performing students. The student awards included the TM Teoh Award, the funding for which Dr Teoh has kindly provided since the first cohort commenced in 2009.

Provost and CEO, Professor Reg Jordan said “We are honoured to have such esteemed guests join us to celebrate such an important milestone for our graduating students. We are proud of our students and wish them all the very best of good fortune in their future careers.”