Learn to Survive Postgraduate Journey through Spirit of Togetherness and “Santai Akademik”

Nur Hazirah Noh@Seth

JOHOR BAHRU, 18 Sept – 40 postgraduate students together with 12 senior lecturers and three support staffs from the School of Education (SE), Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) attended the Spirit of Togetherness and Santai Akademik program.

It was organised by the Postgraduate Student Society (PGSS) of SE and was held in Teluk Gorek, Mersing.

The program aimed on to gather postgraduate students who are currently pursuing both masters and doctoral studies and to enhance the students’ emotional and mental strength to face the over-challenging of a postgraduate journey especially to Graduate on Time (GoT)

The program was filled with various activities including sharing session, as well as fitness activities to create great bonding among both the students and lecturers.

All the participants and staffs involved with the Spirit of Togetherness and “*Santai Akademik”*

The activities very well suited the program objective, which is to enjoy the activities leisurely while getting to know all the participants and facilitators. It is well known that any postgraduate studies journey is tough, however all the hardship and challenges can be overcome with high endurance and spirit.

Hence, the participants attended a sharing session by the SE alumnus, Dr Azlina A. Rahman, who successfully graduate on time and awarded with the best student award.

The effective sharing session lasted for two hours, with the participants continuously ask questions regarding her postgraduate journey.

Sharing session with the School of Education alumnus, Dr Azlina A. Rahman

“Fit station” activities intrigued the endurance of each participant so that they have the strength to face the postgraduate challenges. Each activity is a group activity, and they cannot succeed without working together hand in hand. All of these activities were conducted to intensify the team working skills among the students, as the sayings, “If you want to walk fast, walk alone, if you want to walk far, walk together”.

Before the program ended, a few awards were given to the participants who worked well with their team members and involved actively in each activity conducted throughout the program.

This program was initiated since 2014, and each year positive responses from the participants were obtained. As they are all overwhelmed with how this program has intrigued their positive spirits, SE aims to prolong the program in the future.