Chan Bi Xuan, first year Nottingham University Business School (NUBS) Malaysia student of University of Nottingham Malaysia has won the Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen Award Essay Writing Competition titled: How Best to Promote Malaysia’s National Interest in the Changing Global Environment. This is the first time a student from the University of Nottingham has won this competition, which has been held annually since 2014.
According to University of Nottingham Malaysia Provost and CEO Professor Graham Kendall: “Our students are high achievers in their own field and many are already creating an impact outside of their fields, especially in the arts world.”
“It is common for our engineering and business students to have participated in plays and performance, and also in sporting activities. It is no surprise that students from business and economics are the winners of an essay competition on international relations and we should welcome and embrace this, as it is evidence that they are receiving a fully rounded education, rather than just focussing on their own discipline,” Professor Kendall said.
At the prize giving competition Chan Bi Xuan shared: "This competition has inspired me to become a more proactive citizen of Malaysia. I have learnt so much about Malaysia's economic and political landscape through this competition but I feel like there is a need for me to do more than that. I am now motivated to put myself out there to create greater impact on society. This competition gave me the chance to realise this and for that I'm thankful."
The competition was held in honour of United Nations Association of Malaysia (UNAM), YM Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen bin Tengku Ismail. Winners for this year’s competition were announced on 15 September 2018. The event was graced by Ministry of Education Malaysia Deputy Director General of Higher Education Dr. Mohd Nor Azman Bin Hassan.
Other champions include second prize winner; Methodist College Vydehgi Pillay Kumaraguru and third prize winner; University of Nottingham Malaysia School of Economics student Muadzzam Abdullah, winning RM 1,500 and RM 1,000 respectively.
According to Chairman of the Judging Committee, Dato’ M Santhananaban: The Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen United Nations Association Essay Competition is invaluable in promoting the awareness of the highest ideals of the United Nations. It also seeks to involve the youth of Malaysia in formulating ideas for the betterment of mankind, in achieving greater interconnectivity and understanding in a globalised world and in recognising the role of Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen, a respected former Foreign Minister, as a distinguished and inspiring personality in reaching out to all levels of society, especially the youth. It is hoped that this competition will continue to draw the interest of the youth of the country.
About the competition
The award is named in honour of the Founding member of the United Nations Association of Malaysia (UNAM), YM Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen bin Tengku Ismail who served as minister in several portfolios, including Foreign Minister in the Malaysian Government. On 8 February 2018, Tengku was awarded one of Japan’s top decorations, The Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun by His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor Akihito, the for his outstanding contributions to the promotion of diplomatic and economic relations between Japan and Malaysia.
In the spirit of Tengku’s life’s work to promoting good diplomatic relations, The YM Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen Award Essay Writing Competition is jointly organised by the University of Nottingham Malaysia and the United Nations Association of Malaysia (UNAM); to honour Tengku for his many contributions to the Malaysia. This is the 4th year that the University of Nottingham has jointly organised this competition with UNAM.
(Article image caption: Y.Bhg Dato’ Zainal Abidin Haji Ahmad, Secretary General of UNAM presenting the prize to Chan Bi Xuan)
(Thumbnail image caption: Ministry of Education Malaysia Deputy Director General of Higher Education Dr. Mohd Nor Azman Bin Hassan and Professor Graham Kendall)
-ends-
More information is available from Dr Seow Hsin Vonn on hsin-vonn.seow@nottingham.edu.my for media enquiries, contact Josephine Dionisappu, PR and Communications Manager at University of Nottingham Malaysia on josephine.dionisappu@nottingham.edu.my.
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Posted on 18th September 2018