新纪元大学学院理事会主席
林忠强博士讲辞
新纪元大学学院升格典礼暨学士课程推介仪式
2017年4月8日（星期六）
董教总教育中心非营利有限公司董事会主席叶新田博士，新纪元大学学院校长莫顺宗博士，各位来宾，各位媒体朋友，大家早上好！
首先，我要感谢在座每一位出席者，感谢你们出席见证新纪元大学学院迈入新的发展阶段。新纪元从学院升格大学学院，是一个非常艰辛的过程，我们花了不少心血和时间才完成这项任务。
各位，从南洋大学、独立大学到今天的南方、新纪元和韩江三所華社民办学府，六十多年来，马来西亚华人对于华文大学一直都有一种深刻的情意结。这种情意结并不单纯是对民族文化传承的情感，经过了几十年的风风雨雨，华文大学已经是受华文教育者，企图完善母语教育体系的指标，是受华文教育者，争取自我身份受到认同的象征，我们需要完整的母语教育体系，我们需要办一所大学，虽然很困难，但是我们深信，我们有能力办好一所大学。
各位，我个人是南洋大学校友，后来也一直参与独大，以及华社民办学府的许许多多的建设工作，一路走来，对于这种情意结，我有相当程度的理解与体会。正是因为如此，新纪元升格为大学学院，显然是意义非凡的。几十年来下来，我们要办华文大学的努力，大多数时候都是逆流而上，常常都是屡战屡败，屡败屡战，付出很多，成果很少，今天我们总算做出一点成绩，这肯定是可喜可贺的事。感谢在座诸位，对于新纪元长期以来的爱护与支持，我们必须百尺竿头更进一步，集中力量，建设新纪元，让新纪元再创高峰。
各位，要办好一所大学并不容易，未来我们还有很多困难，等待我们去克服。所幸的是，我们有一支相对愿意付出、默默耕耘的团队。在等待大学学院注册执照批准的那几年里头，我们的同仁已经为升格以后应该做的工作，做了许多准备。所以，大家会发现，新纪元才刚正式升格，已经有九个新开设的学士课程，可以立刻招收新生就读。下来，新纪元大学学院还会有更多新的学士课程陆续有来。
与此同时，我们也必须不断提升我们的师资水平，改善我们学术研究成果，下来我们会物色更多学有专长的人才加入新纪元，加强我们团队的实力，让新纪元大学学院，在大学路上，一步一脚印，走向康庄大道。
各位，铁树开花当然值得高兴，但铁树开花之后，我们如何办好这所大学，才是最基本、最重要的事。我们未来应该做更多实实在在的事，把新纪元大学学院办好，回报华社对我们的支持。
各位，源自社会，回馈社会，是新纪元的办学理念，新纪元大学学院因为获得社会大众的大力扶持，才有今天的成果。我们必须铭记于心，未来，我们会更加强调，新纪元大学学院的教学和研究，一定要时时刻刻符合华社的需求，配合华社的整体步伐，结合华社各种资源，以学术回报华社，这是我们的办学特色，是我们迈步前进的动力和方向。
未来，我们期待社会大众、新纪元的校友，继续与我们一起同行，戮力同心，发展新纪元。我们深信，不管未来马来西亚高等教育的环境如何，但是一所像新纪元这样具有华教传统、社会支持的高等学府，前景必然是美好的。
最后，我再次感谢大家的出席见证新纪元创校以来重要的这一刻，谢谢大家，谢谢。
Speech by Dr. Lim Chong Keang,
Chairman of the Board of Governors, New Era
University College,
at the Ceremony of New Era Upgraded to
University College
8/4/2017(Sat)
Dr. Yap Sin Tian,
Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dong Jiao Zong Higher Learning Centre Bhd
Dr. Mok Soon Chong,
Vice Chancellor of New Era University College
Distinguished Guests,
Students, Parents, Members of the Press,
a very good morning
to all of you.
First of all, thank you for joining us today to witness the
new stage of development for New Era, from the status of College to University
College.
Over the past 60 years, the Malaysian Chinese has been
witnessing a transformation of our mother tongue education movement, from
Nanyang University(or Nantah) , Merdeka University Berhad to Southern
University College, New Era University College and Han Chiang College. The
Malaysian Chinese always have a profound affection towards building up a Chinese
University. It is not only a representative of cultural heritage, but also a
symbol of identity. After decades of ups and downs, Malaysia Chinese, who
received mother-tongue education, have been trying hard to achieve a complete
mother tongue education system.
I, myself, am a graduate of Nantah, involving in the setup
of Merdeka University and other Chinese schools. Hence, the upgrade of New Era
College to University College status has been extremely meaningful to me. As
the setup of Chinese University is like sailing against the stream, I would
sincerely thank every one of you here for contributing your effort to make it
happen.
With the hard work of our dedicated academic team, New Era
is now ready to launch nine new home-grown Bachelor programs. In other words,
schools leavers are welcome to pursue studies in New Era right away.
Besides new academic programmes, we will be upgrading our
academic’s teaching and research skills. Also, we are looking forward to
incorporating more talents to strengthen the New Era team. “From the community,
for the community”, with this in mind, we will try our best to integrate
various resources in order to meet the needs of the Chinese community.
I do hope that, all of you here, the community as well as
the New Era alumni will continue to work with us to develop New Era. We are
convinced that with social support, a traditional Chinese institution of higher
learning like New Era, will continue to thrive and prosper despite a
challenging higher education environment in Malaysia in the future.
Once again, thank you for witnessing this important moment.
Thank you.
