Firstly, as a disclaimer, I obtained permission from both of them to write this story. In fact, I shared the draft with them to review before submitting it to UTM NewsHub. Secondly, despite sharing the same surname, they are not biologically related. They are of different genders and had not even known each other until they met at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). And thirdly, they are my first two People’s Republic of China PhD students to graduate under my main supervision.

I dedicate this writing to them, because while they often say they are inspired by me, the truth is that I, too, have been deeply inspired by them. These are the lessons I have learned from them during our journey together.

Choosing UTM

Wang Qian, from Ningxia, is currently seeking a lecturer position at Chinese universities. According to her, Malaysia is a close and friendly neighbour of China, and UTM is a prestigious university with a long history, a strong academic atmosphere, and a high international reputation. These were the main reasons she chose UTM for her PhD. Wang Haosheng, from Dezhou in Shandong Province, is now a primary school mathematics teacher in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province. Looking back, he feels deeply grateful for his decision. UTM’s strong international reputation in educational technology and learning sciences attracted him, but more importantly, he said he felt fortunate to have met me.

From their stories, the first thing I learned is that both chose UTM because of its global reputation — and as part of the UTM ecosystem, I am truly proud of this.

Family Sacrifices

Wang Qian is a mother of two daughters. Each time she came to UTM, she had to leave her family in China. She often stayed for months, ensuring that she completed her planned tasks and submitted them to me before returning home. She did this consistently for three years. As for Wang Haosheng, on the day he flew from Shenzhen to attend his viva voce at UTM, his wife was admitted to hospital in preparation for childbirth — something I did not even know. I only knew he had gotten married just before his proposal defence two years earlier. As soon as the viva verdict was announced, he rushed straight to Changi Airport to fly home, hoping to make it in time to welcome their first child.

From them, I learned the value of sacrifice — how they were willing to endure separation from their families to study, learn, graduate, and build better futures. I hope their sacrifices will pay off, and that they will remember me in UTM if they become prominent figures in their country.

Resilience and Patience

For her viva requirements, Wang Qian submitted an article to a Web of Science (WOS)-indexed Q3 journal. She patiently revised it many times, and it took over a year to be published. Remarkably, by the time it was published, the journal had risen to Q1. Meanwhile, Wang Haosheng independently learned how to conduct a visual bibliographic analysis for his literature review, mastering several software tools and producing high-quality work. As a result, his article was accepted and published in both WOS- and Scopus -indexed journal.

From this, I learned that patience and resilience are key — if you want something, work hard for it, because success will not simply come to you. As the saying goes, Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

Their Reflections

Before they returned home for good, I asked them for honest feedback about me as their main supervisor, and about their experience at UTM — including any weaknesses I should improve on. Wang Qian described her journey at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) as an unforgettable experience. She was touched by the friendliness and kindness of the people she met, and she found the academic environment both challenging and fulfilling. Under my supervision, she gradually strengthened her research skills, deepened her understanding of education, and gained greater confidence in navigating academic and personal challenges. Wang Haosheng shared that his years at UTM were a period of significant professional and personal growth. He appreciated the supportive environment and the guidance he received throughout his studies, which encouraged him to explore educational design research and mixed methods more deeply—from theoretical planning to empirical validation. He felt that this experience provided him with valuable training and a solid foundation for his future academic career, and regarded his time at UTM under my supervision as an important step in his scholarly journey.

Epilogue

From the Two Wongs, I learned that sacrifice, patience, resilience, and gratitude are the cornerstones of success. They remind me why I became an academic — not just to inspire, but to be inspired.

Associate Professor Dr. Abdul Halim Abdullah
Faculty of Educational Sciences and Technology
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

Source: UTM NewsHub