(Standing from right) Goh, Lim, Prof Chong and campus student service manager Joey Phuah giving ang pow to the seniors.

Highlight of the event included guests tossing the dragon yee sang.

By UOW Malaysia 

Chinese New Year fun and glee may be over but undergraduates of UOW Malaysia in Batu Kawan, Penang, experienced a joyous finale with a couple of “lions” offering a pleasant distraction.

The lions “pounced” on the students in their chic library corner while they were getting back into study mode, injecting Chinese New Year merriment before serious studying starts.

It was the campus’ Lunar New Year bash, which included the lighting up of many strips of firecrackers and tossing of an artistically laid out yee sang in the shape of a 4m-long flying dragon.

Another attraction was the chance for everyone to try their hand at Chinese calligraphy, which the campus’ assistant admissions manager Shuhada Ismail took delight in as well, making fair work of inscribing the Chinese character “Fu”, meaning “fortune”.

The event’s special guests were residents of Pusat Penjagaan Ceria, Glory Everise Home and Pusat Jagaan Machang Bubok.

They were treated to a meal, received ang pow and were made comfortable at the futuristically designed 10-acre campus.

Their presence marked the launch of UOW Malaysia KDU Penang University College’s “Hope For All” program.

It is an initiative designed to foster student engagement in community service, focusing on underprivileged elderly communities.

Penang social development and welfare committee chairman Lim Siew Khim, who attended the event, lauded the program for being able to close the inter-generational gap by helping students form a connection with senior citizens.

The program, she said, could help students develop a sense of empathy, foster awareness on the need for kindness, respect and compassion when dealing with the elderly.

“The practice of continuously giving back to society will start a chain reaction of goodwill throughout society in Penang.”

UOW Malaysia vice-chancellor Prof Dr Chong Beng Keok, in her speech, saluted efforts of academicians for unlocking students’ potential.

“Your commitment to academic excellence builds bridges between aspirations and the future of the students,” she said.

Prof Chong also announced that UOW Malaysia’s degree programs allowed students to complete a number of semesters without extra charges at UOW Australia.

“We do this to make top quality overseas study as accessible as possible for Malaysians.”

Also present at the event were Bukit Tambun assemblyman Goh Choon Aik and senior officers from the Penang Social Welfare Department and Education Department.