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A family affair for Malaysian alumni

December 20, 2004

Malaysian group.jpg The University of New England could have no more enthusiastic advocate than Professor Dato’ Dr Kamarudin Kachar who returned to the campus last week with six of his grandchildren who he hopes will attend the University.
Professor Kachar and his family lived in Armidale between 1976-79 when he completed his PhD in Higher Education Management.
From that time he has maintained regular contact.
He has still owns the house he bought in the city so three of his four children could attend UNE, has received a Distinguished Alumni award from the University and is currently patron of the very active Malaysian UNE Alumni Association.

Professor Kachar attributes his not inconsiderable success and distinguished career to his UNE qualification which he says “led to very rapid promotion” in his home country.
On his return he became Dean of Education at the University of Putra, its Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Acting Vice Chancellor before being appointed Director General of Biro Tata Negara National Civic Education Bureau.
Subsequently he served as Education Director of the Mara Education Foundation, Dean of Education at the University of Malaysia, Sabah, and foundation Vice-Chancellor of the University Industry Selangor.
In semi-retirement he still works as an education consultant and is keen to send as many of his 12 grand children as possible to UNE.
“Things have changed since I came to study in Armidale,” he said. “There were only five public universities in Malaysia and the government gave loans for students to study overseas to gain qualifications that were not available at home.
“Now there are 17 public and 13 private universities and university colleges and it is much more difficult for students to obtain loans to study overseas.”
He says, however, his family is determined to maintain the connection with Armidale, even if it means paying from their own pockets.
“UNE has a good reputation and is well known in Malaysia,” he said. “We still have many friends here and we want our grandchildren to have some international exposure as part of their education.”
The photo shows (back row) Tariq Aqil, Lidiya, Anuraniqan, Saddia and Harrith Kachar with (front) Professor Grant Harman, Professor Kachar, his wife Datin Che Tom Osman, daughter-in-law Mardian (holding Imran) and son Khairul Anuar at UNE last week.


Posted by Lydia Roberts at December 20, 2004 12:05 PM