PUTRAJAYA: Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, honoured the 2024 Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Royal Gala Dinner (UTM RGD) with her presence, held at a hotel in Putrajaya on Saturday (Oct 19) night.
Che’ Puan Mahkota Khaleeda Johor also graced the event.
Raja Zarith Sofiah, who serves as UTM chancellor, arrived at approximately 8.20pm and was greeted by Datuk Seri Dr Zaini Ujang, the secretary-general of the Higher Education Ministry; UTM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Ahmad Fauzi Ismail; and Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar, chairman of the UTM Board of Directors.
The biennial dinner, organised by UTM, commenced with a video presentation, followed by a speech from Ahmad Fauzi and the presentation of a mock cheque to scholarship and sponsorship recipients.
Since its inception in 2012, the UTM RGD has been a vital fundraising platform for the public higher education institution.
The UTM RGD 2024 successfully raised RM6.4mil in contributions from the state government, corporate companies, industry players, UTM alumni, staff, and individual donors.
In his address, Ahmad Fauzi revealed that UTM has awarded 883 scholarships to its students, totaling RM25.9mil.
He also mentioned that the UTM endowment fund currently stands at RM159.7mil.
Besides scholarships, over 100 UTM students from the B40 income group have benefited from a living allowance of RM450 per month for two semesters.
“UTM not only focuses on supporting local students but also extends aid to international students, particularly those from Palestine,” he said.
To support Palestinian students, Ahmad Fauzi announced that UTM established the Serambi Al-Quds Programme, sponsoring 10 Palestinian students for their PhDs in various fields and faculties since last year.
“I am deeply moved by the generosity, concern, and commitment shown by all the donors in helping us achieve UTM’s excellence agenda. These contributions are immensely meaningful,” he added. – Bernama
