Professor Dato’ Dr Md. Amin Bin Md Taff
Arriving in Aotearoa/New Zealand in 2002, with insufficient funds, sleeping on a couch and facing the unfamiliarity of Kiwi slang and Kiwi food, the first few weeks of Professor Dato' Amin Bin Taff's time at Otago proved challenging.
"But when I registered and met my supervisors and [Physical Education] faculty members, they were very welcoming and warm, and I felt like I was home. They treated me like family, which takes away all the sorrows of the challenge."
Back on the Dunedin campus last week to visit the University and to deliver the Graduation Speech (see excerpts below), in the intervening years Professor Taff has gone from a cash-strapped Outdoor Education student to Vice-Chancellor of the Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) in Tanjung Malin, Perak, Malaysia, and President of the Consortium of Asia-Pacific Education Universities (CAPEU). He says the life skills learned during his time at Otago and in New Zealand have stayed with him and shaped the person he is today.
"I want to tell the new graduates about the University of Otago's beauty, culture, people, city and country. The way of living of Kiwis. About love, compassion, and respect. In this challenging world of geopolitical instability, those virtues are essential, and this is what I've been taught at Otago.
"I still claim it's the best university in New Zealand; I don't care about the rankings. It's the best experience the students will get, which they will transform into their lives and be successful and live happily."
Director of Development and Alumni Relations Shelagh Murray says it was an honour to host Professor Taff, his wife Pazilah Yahaya, and the Executive Director of CAPEU, Mr Sasigaran Moneyam, on campus for the Graduation weekend.
After an official welcome on Friday, the guests spent time touring the campus, visiting the School of Physical Education and meeting with Malaysian students.
“It was a privilege to have them on campus, and to have such a distinguished alumnus deliver a heartfelt graduation speech; sharing his insights and experiences of being a student at Otago with our newest graduates.”
A top kayaker and outdoor enthusiast, Professor Taff had two offers for undertaking his master's degree – the University of Edinburgh and the University of Otago. He chose Otago because he'd heard a lot about the whitewater kayaking scene in New Zealand and was keen to explore various outdoor opportunities.
"Dunedin is the twin city for Edinburgh; I'm so lucky and blessed to have had a bit of both. By coming to Otago, I will have the experience of the Scottish tradition, and I can also explore and deepen my knowledge and skills in whitewater and outdoor education."
He says another part of the attraction for studying at Otago was that outdoor education wasn't just a subject but a way of life in New Zealand.
"That's what I wanted to learn. I could get an outdoor education course anywhere, in Canada and the States, but I think outdoor education is the life and practices of New Zealanders. And it is true – when I came here, everybody talked about tramping, camping, kayaking, surfing. Every New Zealander has at least one of those outdoor skills, which is unique."
During the 20 months he spent in Dunedin, Professor Taff completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Outdoor Education and a Master of Physical Education. After the first four months, he was joined by Pazilah and their three small children.
"We lived a wonderful life. A poor student's life, but we had fun and learned about love, friendships and family." While here, they explored the South Island, kayaking, camping and tramping.
He says he learned "to trust in yourself, know that nothing is impossible. You can do things and wonders, and it's in every one of us. Learning from my always positive and encouraging supervisors, I did love that attitude.
"That shapes me, and I bring it to my career, which I still practice today. You respect others, you respect the environment, you respect society, and you respect yourself."
His study at Otago focused on how outdoor education programmes or activities influence your attitudes toward the environment. He credits his lecturers and supervisors, Professor Steven Jackson, Associate Professor Michael Boyes, Robyn Zink and John Maxted, for their assistance and influence on his life path.
Before coming to Otago, Professor Taff taught outdoor education and adventure tourism from 1993-2001. After completing his master's degree at Otago, he became a lecturer and Head of Department at UPSI. He went on to do his PhD in Parks and Outdoor Recreation Management at Universiti Putra Malaysia. He was later appointed Director of the UPSI Sports Centre.
In 2014, he moved to Washington, DC, as Director of the Malaysian Education Office, and in 2017, he was appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs) at UPSI. In 2021, he was appointed Vice-Chancellor.
Mr Sasigaran Moneyam and Professor Dato’ Dr Md. Amin Bin Md Taff on their recent visit to the University
Professor Taff has also served on expert educational panels and led academic, community and environmental projects. Among awards for his service to education, volunteering and outdoor recreation, he has won the National Outdoor Recreation Award and the National Kayak Award.
Throughout his career, he has applied everything he has learned in outdoor education to his various roles and continues to do this as Vice-Chancellor.
"Outdoor education is not about learning skills but about learning the way of life. That's the main objective of outdoor education. People might see you mustering the skills of kayaking, mountaineering, climbing, and scuba diving, but it's how you manage your life, conquer your fear, and respect others.
"If you go camping or kayaking, you cannot predict the weather; anything can happen, so you have to be prepared. You always have plans, back-ups and options, and at the same time, you have fun. Fun is very important; without fun, we can do nothing."
As a Vice-Chancellor of UPSI, he hopes to impart to his students that learning is all about life; it is not about gathering skills or a degree, but about "preparing you for your future, for you to manage your future and manage yourself. That's what I'm doing at my university. I'm making sure they get life experience so that they can embrace the future."
Excerpts from Professor Taff’s Graduation Speech, 11 May 2024
“My journey to this podium has been one of resilience, courage, and the unwavering support of this incredible community at the University of Otago.
When I first arrived on these shores, I was stepping into a world utterly foreign to me. The land, the language, the customs— everything seemed like a puzzle waiting to be solved.
Adding to this was the realisation that I was a person of a different religious and cultural background. The initial language barrier only heightened my sense of isolation.
But amidst these trials, a beacon of hope emerged. The people of Otago, with their warmth and kindness, embraced me wholeheartedly. From the moment I set foot here, I was showered with love and care, making this distant land feel like home. The students, academics, and neighbours all rallied around me, offering support in ways I never expected.
Yet, I must confess that there were moments of fear and uncertainty that crept into my heart. The echoes of tragic events like 9/11, which shook the world and cast a shadow of apprehension, were not lost on me. The fears of being judged, misunderstood, or even discriminated against lingered in the back of my mind.
But here's what sets Otago apart: in this community, fear is met with understanding, ignorance with education, and prejudice with empathy. It was here, in this haven of inclusivity, that I learned invaluable lessons. I learned to accept challenges not as obstacles but as opportunities for growth. I learned to embrace and celebrate the richness that diversity brings to our lives.
The University of Otago has been more than an institution of learning for me. It has been a nurturing ground, a place where love, passion, enthusiasm, and leadership are not just encouraged but celebrated. It has shaped me into the person standing before you today, ready to take on the world with a heart full of gratitude and a mind brimming with knowledge.
Embrace challenges with open arms; they are the stepping stones to greatness. Embrace diversity, for it is the tapestry that makes our world vibrant and beautiful. Above all, we should embrace love, for it is the force that binds us together as one global family.”
Kōrero by Margie Clark, Communications Adviser, Development and Alumni Office