Asia Metropolitan University (AMU) Conferred Two Honorary Graduates and Honoured 219 Graduates at its 14th Convocation Ceremony

Johor Bahru, 19 December 2022 – At its 14th Convocation Ceremony, Asia Metropolitan University conferred Honorary Doctorates to India’s multi-talented entertainer and founder of Life Again Foundation, Ms. Gautami Tadimalla and revolutionary entrepreneur in Tamil Nadu, India, Rev. Father Maria Paulian Gaspar Raj (Father Jegath). The ceremony also saw 219 graduates of various programmes. Held at Amansari Residence Resort Grand Hall, in Johor Bahru, Johor on 8 December 2022, the conferment is in line with AMU’s vision in uplifting communities with equitable access to quality education.

The University is delighted to confer Ms. Gautami Tadimalla with an Honorary Doctorate in Wellness and Community Service. Among one of the many prominent efforts by Ms. Gautami Tadimalla to uplift the community is the founding of the Life Again Foundation (LAF), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) with the initial aim of raising awareness about cancer and reaching treatment facilities to people across the socio-economic spectrum.

In line with AMU’s vision in uplifting communities with equitable access to quality education, the University is delighted to confer Ms. Gautami Tadimalla with an Honorary Doctorate in Wellness and Community Service. Among one of the many prominent efforts by Ms. Gautami Tadimalla to uplift the community is the founding of the Life Again Foundation (LAF), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) with the initial aim of raising awareness about cancer and reaching treatment facilities to people across the socio-economic spectrum.

Gautami Tadimalla received the Honorary Doctorate in Wellness and Community Service for her notable achievements and successes in uplifting communities with equitable access.

Ms. Gautami has worked extensively and to great success in the Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi, and Kannada film industries beginning in the 90s, resulting in an enduring creative legacy recognised by professionals, critics, and audiences alike. After recovering from cancer at the age of 35, she then became an activist to raise awareness for health and education-related causes and founded the Life Again Foundation (LAF).

Today, with a wealth of on-ground experience, LAF’s mandate has expanded to work within the areas of health, with focus on NCD - non-communicable diseases, and education which include skills development, leadership skills and entrepreneurial capacity development. “How I got here today is because every challenge I have faced, I take, learn, and find opportunity in those challenges. It has driven me to focus in empowering more people in every spectrum”. Said the Honorary Doctorate in Wellness and Community Service recipient in her conferment speech.

Continuing with AMU’s focus in exceptional leadership and educational excellence, Father Jegath, a Catholic priest who has ministered various parishes and institutions for the last thirty-one years as a Catholic priest was also conferred with an Honorary Doctorate, this time in Social Entrepreneurship. He has been recognized for his work in the social sector and social entrepreneurship. As the founder of RISE Global Entrepreneurship Network that promotes social entrepreneurship worldwide, he has created a global network of entrepreneurs to nurture the hopes and aspirations of start-ups.

Rev. Father Maria Paulian Gaspar Raj (Father Jegath) received the Honorary Doctorate in in Social Entrepreneurship for his notable achievements and successes in exceptional leadership and educational excellence.

Father Jegath is the Chairman & Managing Director (MD) of Goodwill Communications Ltd. andthe Founder & MD of Tamil Maiyam, an NGO promoting arts, culture, and scholarly research in Tamil. The latter’s first project led to the historic Thiruvasakam in Symphony by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, which saw more than 250 artists and technicians from Hungary, USA and India coming together to make the project a success. Among others, he is also the Co-Founder of Give Life Trust, that has supported the school education of 47,000 children from socially challenged backgrounds. He has also pioneered several movements globally and particularly in Asia, to uplift the human capital index in health, education as well as improving the economic background of disadvantaged people to rise above the poverty level index in the gig economy of today.

In his acceptance speech, Father Jegath reminded everyone to always celebrate good and strive for the betterment of human beings despite the challenges we are facing such as pandemics, wars, global warming and the everchanging evolution of the world. AMU’s 14th Convocation Ceremony also honoured 25 graduands from the class of 2020, 83 graduands from the class of 2021, and 111 graduands for the class of 2022. The late graduation from previous batches was due to the unprecedented times of COVID-19, which led to the ceremony being postponed.

During the ceremony, AMU’s Chairman YBhg. Professor Datuk Dr. Megat Burhainuddin bin Megat Abdul Rahman acknowledged the resilience that have been demonstrated by the graduands despite the challenges they faced in completing their studies. “Our graduands are our future resilient leaders. I hope that today’s graduands will continue to be committed to practicing the knowledge gained while studying at AMU to assist the industry in developing our beloved country. You have become a knowledgeable, innovative, virtuous, and dedicated graduate to be a future leader.” He also complimented the hard work staff members who have worked hard for making this a memorable event for all graduands and their family members.

The University has continuously taken steps in creating a path of impressive growth throughout the years by committing to deliver quality education, producing qualified and competent graduands with multi-layered skills to withstand the impending onslaught of global challenges.