AFTER 19 YEARS UMK PRODUCES 26,645 GRADUATES, SHINES IN GLOBAL UNIVERSITY RANKINGS

BACHOK, Nov 10 (Bernama) -- Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) continues to strengthen its reputation as a leading entrepreneurial university, having produced 26,645 graduates since its establishment 19 years ago.

 UMK vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Arham Abdullah said a total of 2,968 graduates received their scrolls at the university’s 15th Convocation Ceremony this year, comprising 44 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) recipients, one Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) graduate, 66 Master’s degree holders, and 2,857 Bachelor’s degree recipients.

“Of the total, 45 international graduates from six countries - Indonesia, China, Nigeria, Pakistan, Maldives, and Yemen - were also celebrated during the seven convocation sessions held from today until Thursday,” he said in his speech at the first session of the 15th UMK Convocation Ceremony at the Dewan Keusahawanan UMK, here today.

UMK Pro-Chancellor, Tengku Mahkota of Kelantan Tengku Muhammad Fakhry Petra, graced the ceremony.

Arham said this year’s ceremony also recognised the first cohort of 112 graduates from three new academic programmes, namely the Bachelor of Arabic Language with Entrepreneurship (Honours), Bachelor of Information Technology (Honours), and Bachelor of Accounting (Honours).

During the first session, 111 postgraduate students received their scrolls, including 12 research-mode graduates who successfully completed their studies within the stipulated time (Graduate on Time – GOT). Of the 12, eight were international students while four were locals.

Arham shared his pride in UMK’s growing international recognition, noting that the university is currently ranked 1501+ in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025, and 401-600 in the THE Global Impact Rankings 2025.

He added that UMK also achieved a position in the 501-600 band of the THE Asia Rankings 2024, and, for the first time, was listed among the Top Five Malaysian universities in the THE Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2025.

UMK also made its debut in the QS World University Rankings 2026, securing a position in the 1201-1400 band, and showed remarkable progress in the QS Asia Rankings 2026, rising to 427th place from 501-520 the year before.

Arham added that as of Sept 30, 2025, UMK’s graduate employment rate stood at 97.2 per cent, while its graduate employability rate reached 96.7 per cent, with over 12 per cent of graduates successfully becoming entrepreneurs.

“This achievement proves that UMK is on the right track towards realising its mission of becoming ASEAN’s top entrepreneurship university by 2026, and in Asia by 2030,” he said.

According to Arham, in preparing country’s future talent, UMK has this year offered places to 167 first-class graduates to pursue their studies at the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) level through a fast-track programme.

He also reminded graduates to uphold UMK’s good name by practising the values of integrity, responsibility, and service, while continuing to contribute to society through their respective fields of knowledge and expertise.

-- BERNAMA