JOHOR BAHRU, Oct 29 – The Faculty of Educational Sciences and Technology (FEST), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), hosted its inaugural FEST Alumni Homecoming 2026 at the FEST Seminar Room. The programme was organised by the FEST Alumni Committee, led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Norulhuda Ismail, with support from UTM Alumni. FEST postgraduate students also played key roles in organising the event.

The homecoming aimed to bridge the gap between past and present students by providing a platform to share experiences and celebrate alumni contributions in their professional fields and the community. The inaugural programme brought together 12 alumni from different graduating years, with the faculty hoping to organise more alumni activities in the future.

The programme began with a talk for postgraduate students delivered by Dr. Mohamad Mustaqim Yusoff, entitled “Navigating the Postgraduate Journey: Mental Health and Coping Strategies”. The session offered perspectives on the realities of advanced academic research and ways to manage academic stress. Dr. Mohamad Mustaqim shared practical advice on time management and mindset shifts to help postgraduate students sustain their motivation and safeguard their mental health throughout their master’s and PhD studies.

The programme continued with a forum entitled “From Classroom to Impact: Building your Legacy after Graduation”, moderated by Dr. Juhazren Junaidi. The forum featured alumni Amirul Hakim Mohd Zain Al Rashidi, Hazel Michelle Anak Aeng and Dr. Latha Haridass, who shared their experiences, professional journeys and views on building a meaningful legacy after graduation.

The panellists discussed their transition from university to professional life, the challenges they had faced and how their experiences at UTM had shaped their work ethic. Their perspectives offered students an insight into the skills, resilience and commitment needed to build purposeful careers and contribute meaningfully to their respective fields.

A key highlight was the FEST Alumni Achievement Awards, which recognised 12 outstanding alumni across seven categories. Held for the second time, the awards celebrate alumni achievements, contributions and impact in their respective fields. They were open to undergraduate and postgraduate alumni who graduated from the Faculty of Education, School of Education, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, and FEST. A total of 44 alumni were nominated, with submissions assessed by 32 jurors. The recipients with the highest scores were selected for the awards.

The recipients were Nurul Aina Jusmi in the Community Impact category; Nur Azmina Ramli in Entrepreneurship; Shalini Jayaprakash in Globalisation; Evania Yafie in International Distinguished Alumni; Hasbullah Abu Kassim, Hazel Michelle Anak Aeng and Latha Haridass in Leadership; Aruna Santhappan in Sports; and Goh Kok Ming, Amirul Hakim Mohd Zain Al Rashidi, Norarbaiyah Yaacob and Ahmad Mustaqim Yusoff in Teaching Excellence.

The FEST Alumni Committee expressed its appreciation to the speakers, forum panellists, alumni and invited guests for their contributions and participation. The committee also acknowledged the postgraduate students for their commitment and efforts in making the programme a memorable occasion.

By Teo Hao Tian, Master of Education (Mathematics) student, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Norulhuda Ismail, senior lecturer at the Faculty of Educational Science and Technology, UTM