Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) pro-chancellor Arshad Ayub today called for a RM10 monthly contribution from each of the more than 400,000 graduates which the university has produced so far to help reduce its dependence on government budget.

In making the suggestion, he appealed to UiTM graduates to start making a token "pay-back" to their alma mater so that it could introduce more degree or diploma programmes and even enable more students from poor families to pursue their studies at the university.

"If only each of you can chip in just RM10 per month, this will mean UiTM can raise more than RM40 million a year. Now we have to beg the government for everything to run the university," he said in a speech at the UiTM's 73rd convocation here.

A total of 881 students received their degrees and diplomas in engineering from Arshad at the ceremony.

Arshad said: "For the smokers among the UiTM Alumni, RM10 is just equivalent to you having one packet of cigarette less a month. This is the time for you to repay the government for all what it has done to fund your studies you."

He said it cost the government RM1.5 billion to run UiTM annually and this was expected to increase to RM1.6 billion next year.

Give priority to mastering English

Arshad, who was the university's pioneer director when it was still known as Institut Teknologi Mara (ITM) prior to attaining university status, said UiTM was very proud of its engineering degree courses as they had gained recognition even internationally.

He told graduates that getting their degrees or diplomas was just the beginning of their post-university life as the real challenge was for them to prove their worth in the job market.

"Don't stop learning just because you have graduated. Learning in a life-long process and an every minute, every hour and every day business," he added.

Arshad also told graduates to give top priority to mastering English as the language was the real key to knowledge acquisition.

"During your years at UiTM, mastering English was given emphasis. I'm sorry for you if you did not make the best use of your time to master this vital language," he said.

- Bernama