Kubrina Dass, a seasoned professional in the high-stakes world of sports marketing, is one of the roughly 7,000 who will be graduating at the 30th Convocation. She conducts sponsorship negotiations and coordinates brand partnerships for national athletes. “I work to convince them why a national athlete will bring meaning and value to their campaigns,” she explains.
Since 2009, she has worked behind the scenes with some of Malaysia’s most iconic sporting figures, including Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei, Datuk Nicol David, and Dato Pandelela Rinong anak Pamg. “I currently work with Farah Ann Abdul Hadi, Nur Dhabitah Sabri, Shalin Zulkifli, Aniq Kasdan, Ziyad Zolkefli, and many others.
Despite her success, Kubrina, 39, sought to deepen her understanding of human behaviour to advance her career. Having been accepted into a conventional full-time master’s programme elsewhere, she had to let it go as she couldn’t attend physical classes. So, she chose to pursue a Master of Psychology at OUM instead.
“I needed a university that was recognised, approved by the Ministry of Higher Education, and built for working adults,” she recalls. “With OUM, I could take my classes anywhere. Even in the middle of a traffic jam, I could log in through my phone. Because lectures are recorded, I could study anytime, anywhere.”
The Ageless Pursuit of Knowledge
While Kubrina represents the mid-career professional seeking an edge, Dr Abdul Malik bin Md Yusoff, 70, shows that the pursuit of knowledge has no expiry date. A veteran in the medical field, Dr Malik recently completed his Master of Occupational Safety and Health Risk Management.
With a long career in occupational health and clinical practice, Dr Malik has been a clinic director since 1994 and, since last year, also serves as a board member of a marketing firm.
For Dr Malik, OUM’s Open, Distance and Digital Education (ODDE) model was the logical choice. “I chose OUM because it champions lifelong learning,” he says. “The model allowed me to study without putting my ongoing professional contributions on hold.”
He adds that the OUM environment is well suited to mature students. “There was a genuine sense of camaraderie in our forums. We weren’t just students; we were professionals sharing lived experiences. At OUM, past experience isn’t just a memory – it becomes a powerful academic asset.”
A Legacy of Quality and Accessibility
The 7,000 graduating this May represent the enduring spirit of a Malaysia that is constantly learning. Whether they are young parents, corporate leaders or retirees, these graduates show that the traditional constraints of time and geography are no longer barriers to self-improvement.
Whether you want to advance your career like Kubrina or formalise decades of experience like Dr Malik, OUM provides the framework to turn ambition into reality.
