Most people often assume that university degrees can only be earned when one is within a certain age group but for some, it’s a learning process for a lifetime.
A 79-year-old man who is already a grandfather to 17 recently made history after he successfully earned his PhD in Malay literature from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).
79yo M’sian man earns PhD from UKM
Speaking to Sinar Harian about his journey to earning his PhD, Dr Muharam Awang said he faced multiple challenges such as travelling from Johor Bahru to UKM’s campus in Bangi, Selangor regularly and suffering from cataracts.
I had to ask my child living in Batu Pahat to type out my thesis and my vision was blurry, making me unable to read when trying to complete the thesis.
“I underwent cataract surgery last May, and thankfully, after my vision recovered, the thesis was successfully completed,” he said.
Dr Muharam added that his deep love and thirst for knowledge motivated him to pursue his studies even though the process was very challenging.
“At the beginning, I faced many problems, especially when it came to computer skills. For me, these technical matters were difficult.
“Alhamdulillah, I received much help and support from my supervisor, wife, and children, whose pursuit of higher education served as a source of motivation for me.
Eventually, all of Dr Muharam’s efforts paid off, where he was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (Malay Literature) degree at UKM’s Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities along with 7,255 graduates.
Before pursuing his PhD, Dr Muharam previously taught Pengajaran Am (general studies) to Form 6 students and was an instructor as a college before retiring.
Congratulations to Dr Muharam on his achievement and we wish him all the best in his future endeavours!
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