On 3 March 2020, UTAR had to make the difficult decision to postpone the Convocation Ceremony scheduled to be held on 13, 14 and 15 March 2020 to a later date in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Currently, Covid-19 still remains of considerable risk to everyone. Under the SOP of the Ministry of Health, large gatherings and social events are not allowed. The Ministry of Higher Education on 3 June 2020 has released the Standard Operating Procedurefor operation of Institutions of Higher Learning during and post MCO due to COVID-19, which states that convocation ceremony must be postponed and is not to be held until the Government allows large gatherings and events to be held.
Therefore, it is with deep regret that we announce that the physical UTAR Convocation Ceremony normally scheduled in August 2020 will be postponed to a later date. We share your disappointment with this postponement and we seek your kind understanding on this matter.
However, arrangements will be made for all graduates to collect their degree scrolls (physical and block-chain digital certificate) and academic transcripts from 7 August 2020 onwards. Graduates can also rent Convocation Attire for personal photography purposes from 7 August 2020 onwards.
In addition, to celebrate this important milestone with you and your family members, UTAR will also hold an online e-Convocation event to celebrate the achievements of graduates of the March 2020 Convocation and the August 2020 Convocation. The online event will be held on Saturday, 15th August 2020 to honour the graduation and celebrate the dedication and accomplishments of our graduates. More details of this event will be announced soon in the UTAR Convocation Website.
We understand the importance of the physical Convocation ceremony for you and your parents and family members. UTAR will hold the postponed physical Convocation ceremonies for the March 2020 Convocation and August 2020 Convocation batches of graduates at a suitable time in the future, after the Government allows large events to be held. The University will continue to monitor the situation and the dates for the postponed Convocation ceremonies will be announced two months in advance to all graduates. Graduates who are unable to attend the postponed Convocation ceremonies will be allowed to attend any other Convocation ceremony which will be held by UTAR in the next three years, i.e. 2021, 2022 and 2023.
The Covid-19 pandemic is posing great challenges to all of us to adapt to new norms. However, this does not in any way diminish our sense of pride for the achievement of all our UTAR graduates and we congratulate you on your success to graduate with your respective academic degrees after putting in years of hard work.
Further details will be announced through emails to graduates in early July 2020.
We take this opportunity to congratulate our graduates again on your achievement and to wish you and your family safety and good health.
Office of the Registrar
19 June 2020