SERDANG, 25 March 2022 – Four graduating students from the Faculty of Forestry and Environment, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) were awarded the Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC) Academic Award on Sustainable Forest Management and Timber Certification (MTCC Academic Award) for their outstanding final year project theses and overall academic excellence in 2020 and 2021.
Wan Nur Azlin Wan Ariffin and Ahmad Syakir Sulaimi were the recipients for the 2019/2020 academic year. Wan Nur Azlin, who studied under the Bachelor of Wood Science and Technology Programme, received the award for her thesis titled “Surface Quality of Paper Laminates from Acacia Mangium Tannin”, while Ahmad Syakir of the Bachelor of Forestry Science Programme was awarded for his work titled “Ranging Behaviour of Reddish Scops-Owl at Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve, Puchong.”
The award recipients for the 2020/2021 academic year were Zulhelmi Mohd Ali of the Bachelor of Wood Science and Technology Programme and Nurfarhana Khairi of the Bachelor of Parks and Recreation Science Programme. Zulhelmi wrote a thesis on “Knowledge and Perception of Wood Product Companies on Timber Legality Regulations: A Case Study in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur”, while Nurfarhana’s research was on “Hikers’ Awareness on Risk and Safety: The Case of Bukit Tabur.”
Each recipient received RM1,000 in cash and a certificate from MTCC. The awards were presented by MTCC’s Chairman, Kamaruzaman Mohamad at the award presentation ceremony held in UPM here earlier today. Present at the event was Faculty Dean, Professor Dr Hazandy Abdul Hamid, who is a member of the MTCC Board of Trustees.
The MTCC Academic Award was jointly organised by MTCC and the Faculty of Forestry and Environment, UPM since 2016 to encourage students to excel in their education and consequently pursue a career in sustainable forestry or timber-based industries, said Kamaruzaman.
“Apart from spreading the awareness on the importance of sustaining our forests and the environment among university students, we hope that the award will inspire deserving students to go further in these field of studies and contribute their fresh ideas, knowledge and skills in their working world towards ensuring the sustainability of Malaysia’s natural resources,” he said.
He added that MTCC has been presenting similar awards of academic excellence to Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Universiti Malaysia Sabah dan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia since six years ago.