By Saiful Bahri Kamaruddin
Pix Abd Ra’ai Osman

BANGI, 1 September 2014 – A total of 4,154 new students 73% of whom are females have been enrolled at The National University of Malaysia (UKM) for the 2014-2015 academic session at the main campus here today.

UKM Vice Chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Noor Azlan Ghazali said they were registered for 75 programmes offered by 13 faculties of the university, nine at the main campus here in Bangi and four at the Kuala Lumpur campus.

He told a press conference at the Keris MAS Residential College after visiting the new intake that of the 75 programmes offered, 51 are science degree programmes, while 24 are degree courses in social sciences and the humanities.

As in previous intakes, the selection is based on the students’ performance, qualifications and merit. Those who did well and qualified were selected in advance.

All the new students are required to attend briefings by their faculties as well as going through a week-long orientation programme organised by the Department of Student Affairs and Alumni (HEPA) until Sept 6.

Prof Noor Azlan hopes the programme will prompt the students to use their three to four years of study at the university as a period to recognise, explore and discover their strengths to ultimately develop to be useful citizens.

HEPA said in a statement that the main objective of the programme  is to enable new students in addition to register formally and get their student matric cards and to also learn more about UKM while adapting to their new environment.

The orientation programme is run by a group of student facilitators selected from among the undergraduates from various faculties and residential colleges.

HEPA said in a statement that previous orientation programmes had focused on the residential colleges but this time the students would be guided to their respective faculties with their families after receiving their room keys.

The accompanying parents can get to meet the deans, deputy deans and senior faculty members including their lecturers together with the students who would be informed on how UKM produces competitive and competent graduates to serve the nation.