LIFELONG LEARNING: ELDERLY GRADUATES DEFY ODDS TO EARN THEIR PHDS AT UTM

JOHOR BAHRU, Nov 16 (Bernama) -- Two senior citizens have proven that the pursuit of lifelong learning is not merely a saying, but a true life principle, as both received their Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s (UTM) 69th convocation ceremony here today.

The oldest PhD graduate, retired officer of the Elite 10th Parachute Brigade, Major (Rtd) Dr Kamarul Jamaluddin, 79, spent a decade on his challenging journey before earning a PhD in Counselling and Psychology.

The father of four and grandfather of 15, who runs a motivational company, Prestige Consultant, and has delivered talks in Singapore and Brunei, expressed his gratitude to the Johor Islamic Religious Department for the sponsorship and UTM for the zakat assistance, which helped ease his financial burden throughout his studies.

“Learning always comes with tests. I almost gave up at one point, but my supervisor, my wife, and my family encouraged me to persevere.

“My PhD journey, which began in 2015, was far from easy and stretched to nine years due to various issues, including financial challenges and the heavy burden of thesis writing, which nearly caused me to give up in completing my dissertation,” he said when met after the convocation ceremony here today.

Similarly, Dr Abdul Hakim Arifin, 67, who earned his PhD in Arabic Philosophy, also demonstrated that the spirit of learning knows no age limit.

Despite facing financial challenges and family commitments, Abdul Hakim, who hails from Flores, Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, said he was proud to have completed his eight-year academic journey, which began in 2016.

“Learning is not just for ourselves, but for the benefit of all humankind. From the moment we are born, we are already learning. Seeking knowledge is a religious duty until the very end,” said Abdul Hakim, who has dedicated his life to teaching in Indonesia, Pakistan and Malaysia.

After completing his studies, Abdul Hakim hopes to continue serving in the field of education in both Malaysia and Indonesia.

Meanwhile, another PhD graduate, Muhammad Dhiauddin Ahmad Termizi, 29, proved that having hearing problems is not a barrier to success.

The Temerloh-born graduate earned his PhD in Tahfiz Education at UTM.

“Since I was small, I was already having hearing problems on my left side. I realised this when I couldn’t tell which direction a voice was coming from when someone was calling me.

“At the age of 20, I finally sought further treatment, and the doctor confirmed that the nerves in my left ear were damaged. Only then did I apply for an OKU (Persons with Disabilities) card,” he told reporters after the convocation ceremony at Dewan Sultan Iskandar.

Dhiauddin, who was awarded the Best Postgraduate Student, is the only PhD graduate from the Faculty of Social Sciences.

He also serves as an imam at Kangkar Pulai mosque and holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from UTM.

Aside from hearing issues, Muhammad Dhiauddin was also tested with a vocal cord problem throughout the four years he spent completing his thesis.

“My voice gets tired easily. Sometimes, when I am at a large gathering, I choose to remain silent unless there is something important I need to say. To be honest, this condition makes me feel stressed and lacking in confidence,” he said, adding that the support of his wife, Siti Sarah Mohd Noor Haq Poh, 29, has been his pillar of strength.

-- BERNAMA