𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬
New Era University College officially welcomed its new cohort of international students with the January 2026 commencement ceremony held on January 27 at the B500 Auditorium. Organised by the Institute of International Education, the event marked the beginning of a new academic chapter for students joining the university from around the world. Over 100 faculty members and students attended the ceremony, gathering to celebrate and extend a warm welcome to the incoming international students.
Mok Soon Chong: Exploring Local Multiculturalism
Prof. Dr. Mok Soon Chong, Vice-Chancellor of NEUC highlighted Malaysia as a multicultural and harmonious society, where diverse ethnic groups and religions coexist and citizens generally possess multilingual communication skills. He noted that the Malaysian Chinese community has long preserved its mother-tongue education system and Chinese cultural heritage. He encouraged international students to actively explore and integrate into the local multicultural environment while cherishing their study time and focusing on academic pursuits.
Tey Shi Bin: Committed to Advancing Research
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tey Shi Bin, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International and Corporate Development) of NEUC, said that since NEUC began enrolling international students in 2020, nearly 1,000 international students have joined the university. She emphasized the university’s student-centred philosophy, ongoing efforts to promote internationalisation, and initiatives to enhance its QS rankings. She also encouraged postgraduate students to actively engage in research and academic publishing, noting that incentive schemes will be introduced to support high-quality scholarly output.
Mr. Zhang Rui: Embarking on an Academic Journey Through Cross-Cultural Understanding
Representing the new students, Zhang Rui, a doctoral student in the Southeast Asian Studies programme, expressed his sense of dual responsibility for cultural preservation and academic exploration. He described NEUC as a “bridge between Eastern and Western cultures” and praised the university’s efforts in promoting international academic exchange. He encouraged fellow students to base their scholarly journey on cross-cultural understanding as they progress steadily in their academic pursuits.
The ceremony also featured a series of cultural performances, including performing “You and My Dream” from the university’s original campus album Flying High, a solo performance by doctoral student Liu Jiao, and both solo and group performances by members of the Taining Eastern Mindful Peace Culture Research Institute, creating a warm and celebratory atmosphere.
