On Friday, 27 January 2023, TUSC hosted their Official Commissioning Ceremony for Term 2022/2023 from 4pm to 6pm in Lecture Theatre 12. The ceremony was held to formally recognise the efforts of the Student Council members of the previous Term 2021/2022, while officially commissioning its new batch of members of Term 2022/2023 into the council. As the previous term’s commissioning ceremony was a small-scale private event and it was not opened to the public, many TUSC members were glad that the ceremony this year has opened its doors for more people to attend. 

 Among the guests that were in attendance at the event included Taylor’s University internal staff members, personal family members and friends of the TUSC members, special guests, and other student council members from other universities such as Heriot-Watt University Malaysia, Sunway University, Monash University, and many others. Ilya Sulaiman bin Dali, President of Heriot-Watt University Malaysia Student Association, was present at the ceremony along with a few of his executives. He was impressed with how Taylor’s University handled the event, as Heriot-Watt University Malaysia does not have a Commissioning Ceremony for its own student association. 

 “We were actually very happy to join all these events that the other student associations are having if we are able to make time. When we do attend events like this, it gives us ideas and insights into how we could do things on our campus as well,” Ilya stated. 

 The ceremony opened with an inspiring speech from the event’s guest of honour, Professor Dr Pradeep Nair, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Taylor’s University. In his speech, he stressed the importance of being purpose-driven in one’s affairs in life. After looking back on the council’s work for the previous Term of 21/22, the TUSC President of that term, Mikhal Mazlan also gave a speech. This was then followed by the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of the term 21/22 receiving their Certificates of Recognition. A baton passing ceremony was then held to officially signify the shift in power, as the TUSC members of Term 21/22 passed on their work to the succeeding TUSC members of Term 22/23. This was then followed by a speech by the TUSC President of that term, Suleman Mir. 

 The ceremony then moved into more formal proceedings with the oath-taking ceremony and presentation of letters of appointment to the TUSC members of Term 22/23. All members received certificates signed by both the university and the recipient, along with their official badges. The first to do so were members of the new term’s Executive Committee, followed by its Board of Directors. They were then followed by members of TUSC's three departments: Campus Integration, Campus Relations, and Campus Welfare. 

 Sherry Chan, a member of the Campus Integration department, was among the TUSC members commissioned into the council for the new term. To her, the ceremony had a positive impact on her. 

 “It felt very nice when we officially got the statement stating that you’re officially a member of the Student Council,” she recalled, “All of these formalities gave us a sense of importance. I personally felt very energised and motivated to continue my student council term and commit myself more to future events.” 

 After a few more formalities, the ceremony soon came to a close with a photography session. Those in attendance at the event helped themselves to snacks and refreshments as they networked with one another. Elisha Paulraj, Vice President for the 22/23 term, expressed his satisfaction with the success of the event, which he and a few other Executive Committee members took about a month and a half to plan and execute. “For me, the most memorable part of the event would have to be the time when I saw all our members take their oaths into office. Seeing the effort we put into the event come into play in front of my eyes, it was a very memorable experience on that end.” 

 Congratulations to the newly appointed TUSC members of Term 22/23! We look forward to your future endeavours and hard work here at Taylor’s University. In the meantime, you can find them on their Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube pages.