UM to kick of 121st anniversary celebrations on Sept 19

KUALA LUMPUR: Universiti Malaya (UM) will launch its 121st anniversary celebrations on Sept 19, marking another milestone in the journey of an institution that has grown alongside the country's history and development.

Themed "121 Years of Excellence, Weaving the Future (UM121)", the celebration is not merely a commemoration of the university's history and achievements, but also a platform to connect UM's legacy with its future aspirations in higher education, research, innovation and community development.

UM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Seri Dr Noor Azuan Abu Osman said the launch would be officiated by UM Chancellor and Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah at the university.

"One of the highlights of the launch is the Royal Brisk Walk with the Sultan of Perak, which will be held for the first time at UM and involve more than 2,000 members of the UM community.

"The programme symbolises UM's journey of growing alongside the nation for more than a century and continuing to move forward together with the university community," he said in a statement today.

Noor Azuan said the UM121 celebration carried significance beyond commemorating the university's history.

He said it was about appreciating the journey that had shaped UM while looking ahead to the role the university needed to fulfil for Malaysia and the world.

"The 121-year legacy provides us with a strong foundation to continue building a university that dares to explore, create knowledge and make an impact on society," he said.

Noor Azuan said UM121 was also not merely about celebrating how far UM had come, but marking how much further the university aspired to go.

"The launch will mark the beginning of a series of UM121 programmes running until December, covering alumni engagement, academic and intellectual programmes, historical and heritage exhibitions, community activities and various initiatives highlighting UM's contributions to the country.

"The public and alumni are invited to follow updates and the UM121 programme series through the official website and UM's official social media platforms," he said.