Malaysian receives Queen's award
2010/02/21
From Zaharah Othman in London
SOME family snapshots outside the famous gates of Buckingham Palace for Noor Zaitun Yahaya and her family on a bitterly cold morning. To onlookers, they were like any other tourists taking pictures for the family album.
But for Noor Zaitun, 44, University Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering Science and Phd student at Leeds University, it was more than that.
Noor Zaitun had just stepped out of the official residence of the Queen of England after receiving the prestigious Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education for the year 2009, from the Queen herself.
The student, who is currently doing her postgraduate studies at the Institute of Transport Studies (ITS), at the University of Leeds, had represented her research group to receive the certificate and medal from the Queen in a one and a half hour session.
The biennial award is given to recognise and reward the outstanding contribution that universities and colleges in the United Kingdom make to the intellectual, economic, cultural and social life of the nation.
Noor Zaitun, was among 10 representatives from Leeds University, which also included the Institute's director, Prof Mark Wardman, who would bring the award back to the University.
It is the first time that the university had received such an award and the Queen's Award logo will be used by the Institute for four years.
The mother of six from Kuala Kangsar is doing her studies on observation and control of air pollution in urban areas and is among 40 doctorate students at the institute.
ITS is the biggest research centre in Europe on public transport system and the control of air pollution and world leading centre in its field.
Of meeting with the Queen, Noor Zaitun exclaimed that Her Majesty was most interested in Malaysia and had asked her a lot about her field of study.
"I explained to Her Majesty that my research was on transport and air pollution. Her husband the Duke of Edinburgh and their daughter, Princess Anne were also there, making their rounds to meet representatives from universities in the UK.
"Princess Anne showed so much interest, especially in education in Malaysia. I told Her Majesty how proud I was to be representing Malaysia and as a guest in that ceremony," said Noor Zaitun after the ceremony.
She was surprised that she was chosen to represent the research group and felt sure that her part in the achievement would inspire others to excel.
In her red silk baju kurung, Noor Zaitun attracted the attention of many and she took the opportunity to talk to those present about Malaysia.
The government sponsored student was joined by her husband, Fakharuldin Ishak, 45, and their six children, Nur Izzah, 18, Zatul Iffah, 16, Abdullah Azam, 14, Muhammad Al Fateh, 12, Nur Qistina, 10, and Abbas Azizi, 8, outside the gates of the palace after the ceremony.
As a student who excelled throughout her studies, Noor Zaitun was sponsored by the World Bank for her Master's Degree which afforded her study on transportation in 1990 in London.
"I was a late starter in education as there was not much opportunities to study unlike now. So, I do urge students now to grab the opportunities given and continue their studies," said Noor Zaitun, who is also a World Bank certified trainer on urban air quality management.
Last year, Noor Zaitun delivered a keynote speech at an international conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Environmental Management and Air Quality in Less Developed Countries. She had also organised and chaired a postgraduate seminar involving UMT, Leeds University and the Malaysian Students Department.
Noor Zaitun hoped her research would be useful for the country.
-------------------------
1. Puan Zaitun staff UMT.
2. Suami Puan Zaitun merupakan guru besar Sekolah Rendah Al-Hidayah masa saya darjah 3.
2010/02/21
From Zaharah Othman in London
SOME family snapshots outside the famous gates of Buckingham Palace for Noor Zaitun Yahaya and her family on a bitterly cold morning. To onlookers, they were like any other tourists taking pictures for the family album.
But for Noor Zaitun, 44, University Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering Science and Phd student at Leeds University, it was more than that.
Noor Zaitun had just stepped out of the official residence of the Queen of England after receiving the prestigious Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education for the year 2009, from the Queen herself.
The student, who is currently doing her postgraduate studies at the Institute of Transport Studies (ITS), at the University of Leeds, had represented her research group to receive the certificate and medal from the Queen in a one and a half hour session.
The biennial award is given to recognise and reward the outstanding contribution that universities and colleges in the United Kingdom make to the intellectual, economic, cultural and social life of the nation.
Noor Zaitun, was among 10 representatives from Leeds University, which also included the Institute's director, Prof Mark Wardman, who would bring the award back to the University.
It is the first time that the university had received such an award and the Queen's Award logo will be used by the Institute for four years.
The mother of six from Kuala Kangsar is doing her studies on observation and control of air pollution in urban areas and is among 40 doctorate students at the institute.
ITS is the biggest research centre in Europe on public transport system and the control of air pollution and world leading centre in its field.
Of meeting with the Queen, Noor Zaitun exclaimed that Her Majesty was most interested in Malaysia and had asked her a lot about her field of study.
"I explained to Her Majesty that my research was on transport and air pollution. Her husband the Duke of Edinburgh and their daughter, Princess Anne were also there, making their rounds to meet representatives from universities in the UK.
"Princess Anne showed so much interest, especially in education in Malaysia. I told Her Majesty how proud I was to be representing Malaysia and as a guest in that ceremony," said Noor Zaitun after the ceremony.
She was surprised that she was chosen to represent the research group and felt sure that her part in the achievement would inspire others to excel.
In her red silk baju kurung, Noor Zaitun attracted the attention of many and she took the opportunity to talk to those present about Malaysia.
The government sponsored student was joined by her husband, Fakharuldin Ishak, 45, and their six children, Nur Izzah, 18, Zatul Iffah, 16, Abdullah Azam, 14, Muhammad Al Fateh, 12, Nur Qistina, 10, and Abbas Azizi, 8, outside the gates of the palace after the ceremony.
As a student who excelled throughout her studies, Noor Zaitun was sponsored by the World Bank for her Master's Degree which afforded her study on transportation in 1990 in London.
"I was a late starter in education as there was not much opportunities to study unlike now. So, I do urge students now to grab the opportunities given and continue their studies," said Noor Zaitun, who is also a World Bank certified trainer on urban air quality management.
Last year, Noor Zaitun delivered a keynote speech at an international conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Environmental Management and Air Quality in Less Developed Countries. She had also organised and chaired a postgraduate seminar involving UMT, Leeds University and the Malaysian Students Department.
Noor Zaitun hoped her research would be useful for the country.
-------------------------
1. Puan Zaitun staff UMT.
2. Suami Puan Zaitun merupakan guru besar Sekolah Rendah Al-Hidayah masa saya darjah 3.
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