Tahiya Islam, a Bangladeshi student at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), has been appointed as representative of international students at the university.
Tahiya is doing her masters in pharmacology and toxicology at the institution.
On Friday, she delivered a speech on the topic “We love UPM” at the Annual Vice Chancellor’s Speech Program while representing international students at the university.
Tahiya said: “I am very pleased and grateful to have this prestigious and honourable opportunity.”
After narrowly coming second to a Malaysian at an impromptu speech competition arranged by students of UPM on 14 February, Tahiya received an opportunity to give a speech at the prominent event. This gave her the opportunity to speak at an event with Vice Chancellor Prof Datin Paduka Dr Aini Ideris as the chief guest.
For the prestigious event, Tahiya wore a red and green saree to highlight Bangladesh’s culture as well as the colours of its flag.
According to the Quacquarelli Symonds’ World Ranking, Universiti Putra Malaysia stands at 229th on the list of worldwide universities while ranking 36th in Asia.
Tahiya herself is an alumna of East West University (EWU) of Bangladesh, having completed her graduation from the Department of Pharmacy. She received a Fulbright Scholarship and began her master’s course at UPM in September 2017.
At UPM, Tahiya is a member of the Toastmasters Club and won the best table topic speaker award there. She will be representing UPM at the district level public speaking competition of Toastmasters in March.
A prodigious student, she is also the Head of Media and Publication of the AIM Initiative in Bangladesh – a voluntary organization that provides free education and healthcare to underprivileged children in Bangladesh.
