Hoppy New Year!

In Chinese culture, the rabbit symbolizes diplomacy, longevity, grace, and good fortune. People born in the rabbit year are said to be gentle, kind, and skilled at avoiding conflict. Celebrated for 15 days between January 21 and February 20 of the lunar calendar, Chinese New Year fell on January 22 in 2023. Management and Science University (MSU) celebrated it this year with three hundred international students and a lion dance treat.

Bahrainis Dana Alatawi, Fatema Salah, and Fatema Aleid from the Bachelor in Cardiovascular Technology (Hons) programme at the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences (FHLS) were excited about the intercultural experience.

“What we like most about the event is the feeling that everyone here is from one home, like siblings, very welcoming; [never have we felt] that we are far away from home. It is a very nice experience learning about Chinese New Year through this celebration, because we had never known about this different new year that we have between us. We are lucky to be here and celebrating it with many other international students.”

Dana Ahmed Khalifa Saleh Ghanem Alatawi even took home a prize for the Chinese Paper Cutting competition, representing Group 18 including Fatema Salah Mahmood Mohamed Alsharfa and Fatema Ali Abdulla Hamad Fares Aleid.

Other competitions and their winners were DIY Recycle Lion @ Dragon Costume, won by Group 8 represented by Dinesh Ramannaidu of Bachelor in Computer Science (Hons) at the Faculty of Information Sciences and Engineering (FISE); Origami Battle, won by Group 2 represented by Raja Muhammad Arfan Arifshah Raja Lyon Ariff of Bachelor in Human Capital Management (Hons) at the Faculty of Business Management and Professional Studies (FBMP); Monopoly, won by Yap Yun Quan of Bachelor in Computer Science (Hons) at FISE; Snatch the Ang Bao, won by Yang Noor Syarira Roslizan of Bachelor in Graphic Design (Hons) at FISE; and Draw & Guess, won by Lee Jason of Diploma in Event Management at the School of Hospitality and Creative Arts (SHCA).

The afternoon’s entertainment included dance and drum performances.

Officiated by MSU President Professor Tan Sri Dato’ Wira Dr Mohd Shukri Ab Yajid, Chinese New Year of the Rabbit 2023 at Management and Science University (MSU) was jointly organized at the MSU Chancellor Hall on campus in Shah Alam Section 13 by MSU Chinese Culture Society and MSU Student and Career Development (SCD) Department.

It was attended virtually by MSUrians at MSU College branches nationwide, Jakarta Global University (JGU), Henan University of Chinese Medicine Anyang, Management and Science Institute (MSI) Colombo, and MSU Bangalore Campus.