PETALING JAYA: HELP University celebrated its 36th Convocation ceremony at the Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur, marking a significant milestone for graduands, families and educators while commemorating the university’s 40th anniversary.
The ceremony brought together graduands from diverse academic and professional backgrounds, including working professionals, adult learners, postgraduate students, international students and first-generation university graduates.
Held in conjunction with the university’s four-decade milestone, the convocation highlighted HELP University’s continued emphasis on lifelong learning, inclusive education and personal transformation through higher education.
Founded in 1986 by Paul Chan and Chan-Low Kam Yoke, HELP University has grown from a pioneering educational initiative into a globally connected institution recognised for academic excellence, industry relevance and graduate employability.
Speaking during the ceremony, Professor Datuk Dr Paul Chan said the future of education would require institutions to rethink traditional learning models to meet rapidly evolving global challenges.
“The future will demand reinvention. Learning must become lifelong, flexible, experiential, interdisciplinary and deeply connected to real-world challenges.
“This is why HELP pioneered APEL.Q, recognising experiential learning and enabling working adults to continue their educational journey.
“This is why we aspire to become not merely a university, but an ecosystem of humane innovation and lifelong transformation,” he said.
The convocation also reflected the growing importance of alternative education pathways such as APEL.Q, which recognises prior experiential learning and allows working adults and professionals to pursue tertiary education later in life.
Among the notable graduands was Kamarul A Muhamed, founder and group chief executive officer of Aerodyne Group, who completed his Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) through the APEL.Q pathway.
Kamarul, widely recognised for his work in drone technology, artificial intelligence and digital transformation, said his decision to pursue further studies stemmed from a belief in lifelong learning.
“As an entrepreneur leading a global technology company, much of my learning came from building businesses, managing crises, innovation and global expansion. APEL.Q recognises that experience also carries academic value.
“For me, the DBA was never about a title, but about translating years of entrepreneurial lessons into knowledge that can benefit future leaders and the broader ecosystem,” he said.
The graduating cohort also included prominent figures from various sectors, including Topvision Eye Specialist Centre executive vice-chairman Kenny Liew Hock Nean, Sustainability Division at Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) director, Syed Kamal Muzaffa and former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) senior assistant director, Izani Wan Ishak.
Also among the graduands was entrepreneur and investor Calvin Khiu, founder of MK Curtain Berhad and OE EduGroup, who also completed his DBA through the APEL.Q pathway.
Reflecting on entrepreneurship and education, Calvin said success should not be measured solely by profit.
“I have always believed that the value of an entrepreneur is not just about generating profit, but about creating opportunities and making an impact on more people.
“True success is not about how far one person can go alone, but about how many people can be brought along to grow together,” he said.
Meanwhile, HELP University vice-chancellor Andy Liew Teik Kooi encouraged graduands to embrace resilience and adaptability in the face of rapid technological and societal changes.
“Education is not just about what you know. It is about what you now believe is possible,” he said.
The ceremony also acknowledged the role of parents, lecturers, mentors and supporters who contributed to the graduands’ academic journeys.
