By : Siti Nur`Ain Feisal

Editor : Nik Hafzaini Nik Hassan 

SERDANG – UPM at the World Summit@Everest mission is getting closer to reality. The UPM flag will be raised at the peak of the world’s highest mountain, Mount Everest. UPM will carve its own history whereby in this mission UPM alumni will be raising UPM flag at the peak of Mount Everest.  

Upon the completion of the 45^th UPM Convocation for the third session, in front of UPM graduates, YH Prof. Dato’ Dr. Mohd Roslan Sulaiman, Vice-Chancellor of UPM had handed over the UPM flag to the Mount Everest climber, Ravichandran Tharumalingam (Alumni Class 1990). This will be his third ascending and historically he will be raising UPM flag at the world’s highest peak. A history for UPM will be carved. His expedition team will depart for Kathmandu, Nepal on 25 March 2022. This expedition is expected to be completed in June 2022. UPM at the World Summit@Everest mission fund was also launched during the ceremony which will be distributed to UPM in need.     

Ravichandran's desire to raise the UPM flag at the peak of Everest was wholly welcomed by UPM. With the slogan #daripadaalumnikepadaupm, this mission is the manifestation of solidarity and alumni support on the 11^th aspiration of Vice-Chancellor’s Narrative 2022, to engage alumni for university sustainability.    

YH Prof. Dato’ Dr. Mohd Roslan Sulaiman was optimistic that this mission is a recognition to UPM as menara ilmu and hopes that the spirit demonstrated by Ravichandran is exemplified by the UPM community.     

“This is the expected spirit of dedicated alumni not only in the form of monetary but the sense of belonging is greatly demanded. Through this high distinctness will surely realise UPM's mission in producing students as good citizens who will inherit the leadership and lead the nation in the future,” he said at the flag handover ceremony.    

Ravichandran also bid the support from all UPM community by following him on Facebook and dropping motivational comments as moral support that reflects the sense of togetherness in completing this mission. He also hopes that his last training session in Nepal is the final step before he begins ascending.    

“This ascending is the most memorable because I will raise the UPM flag and as UPM alumni this is my contribution to bring UPM globally,” he said.

The mission can also be watched by the UPM community through tiktok@UniPutra which will be recording and documenting this historical journey.

As for Alumni Relations Centre, the Director Assoc. Prof. Dr. Arba’ie Sujud expressed that this expedition is the first accomplished by UPM alumni in bringing UPM to Mount Everest. The success will create a sensational historical moment for UPM as this mission will be carried out by UPM alumni.  

“What we expect from this mission is UPM students who are interested in climbing activity will be guided by Ravichandran through a series of motivation programmes which will be conducted soon. I on behalf of the UPM community namely alumni, will continue to support and welcomed alumni's intention to bring UPM internationally,” he concluded.

Date of Input: 28/03/2022 | Updated: 29/03/2022 | suziana.wil