BINTULU, 1 November – A total of 556 graduates from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) received their respective degrees and diplomas at the 49th UPM Convocation Ceremony, Session 1, held over two days from 1 to 2 November 2025 at Dewan Sri Kenyalang, Universiti Putra Malaysia Sarawak (UPMS).
The ceremony was officiated by UPM Pro-Chancellor, Tan Sri Peter Chin Fah Kui, who presented scrolls to seven Doctor of Philosophy graduates, 31 Master’s graduates, 130 Bachelor’s degree graduates, and 388 Diploma recipients from various academic programmes.
This year’s convocation also marked a significant milestone, with the inaugural cohort of two new academic programmes at UPMS—Bachelor of Science in Industrial Chemistry with Honours and Diploma in Business Management—receiving their scrolls for the first time.
During the ceremony, Tan Sri Peter Chin presented the Live Animals Medical Centre Award to Clayrieysia Samantha Michael Solomon, who was named Best Bachelor’s Graduate from the Bachelor of Bioindustry Science with Honours programme. The Yvonne Sing Sai Hoi Excellence Award was presented to Russell Tang Hsien Rhon, who was honoured as the Best Diploma Graduate in the Diploma in Computer Science programme.
In addition, the Bintulu Port Holdings Berhad Gold Medal for Co-curriculum and Student Development was introduced for the first time to recognise outstanding achievements in leadership and extracurricular excellence. The inaugural recipient was Wan Irfan Hakim Wan Ismail, a graduate of the Diploma in Agribusiness programme.
This year’s convocation was particularly meaningful as it was the first to be held following the rebranding of UPM Bintulu Campus to Universiti Putra Malaysia Sarawak (UPMS) on 30 June 2025. After more than five decades in Sarawak, UPMS continues to strengthen its academic and research expertise while exploring new disciplines aligned with current developments and the aspirations of Sarawak Maju 2030.
Key strategic initiatives currently underway include the establishment of the School of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, the AgriHub@Gedong paddy transformation project and the Universitas Borneo Consortium, which enhances collaboration between UPMS and the Sarawak State Government in building a globally impactful ecosystem of higher education and research.
In conjunction with the convocation ceremony, the UPM 49th Convocation Agriculture Expo and Festival was held from 30 October to 2 November 2025 near Dewan Sri Kenyalang. Open from 8.00 am to 11.00 pm, the expo featured a wide range of agricultural activities and products, including fruit tree seedlings, ornamentals, vegetables, mixed soils, compost and livestock products such as beef, venison, quail, rabbit, and fish.
More than a celebration of academic success, the convocation underscores UPM’s continued role as a leader in agriculture and food security, contributing to the prosperity of Sarawak and the nation as a whole.
