24 Nov 2018

Speech by Dr Eric Kuan, MDIS President at the MDIS – Northumbria University Graduation CeremonySpeeches

Good morning,

Guest-of-Honour, Mr Ang Wei Neng, Member of Parliament for Jurong GRC;

Dr R. Theyvendran, Secretary-General of the Management Development Institute of Singapore;

Dr Kevin Robertson, Faculty Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor, Learning & Teaching, Faculty of Health & Life Science, Northumbria University;

Dr Wai Pang Ng, Director of International Recruitment and Development, Faculty of Engineering and Environment, Northumbria University;

Ms Ruth Crabtree, Head of International Development, Faculty of Health & Life Science, Northumbria University;

His Excellency Kakhramon Shakirov, Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

His Excellency James Sinclair Manley, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Embassy of the Republic of Chile;

Mr Zakariya Hamed Hilal Al-Saadi , Consul-General, Consulate-General of the Sultanate of Oman;

Mr Peter Tan Shou Yi, Honorary Consul, Consulate of Georgia;

Mr O. L. Ameerajwad, Deputy High Commissioner, High Commission of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka;

Ms Diana Larisa Zahorte, Diplomat, Embassy of Romania;

Ms Maria Dionisia Villalba Buonaffina, Charge d'Affaires and First Secretary, Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela;

Ms Aminath Guraisha, Charge d'Affaires a.i., Embassy of the Republic of Maldives;

Ms Janina Lourdes Bustos and Ms Laarni Zorayda Gandarosa, Third Secretary and Vice Consul, Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines;

Distinguished guests;

Graduands and parents;

Ladies and gentlemen.

1  A very warm welcome to the MDIS and Northumbria University Graduation Ceremony. 

2  Graduands, today is a day of great celebration.  I would like to begin by saying congratulations to you, the Class of 2018!  You deserve a round of applause to mark your achievements, and your academic growth. You have undertaken a demanding and rewarding academic journey, one that could only be successfully completed through determination, diligence and hard work.

3  Each of you here today will hold dear in your hearts the people who have supported you during your arduous academic journey.  Take this opportunity to show your appreciation to your family, loved ones and lecturers for their unwavering support.  Graduands, please rise and give them a big round of applause to thank them for standing by you.

4  Education lays the foundation for your academic learning, knowledge and skills. It develops your character and discipline for a successful career and life.

5  Moreover, education bridges you with the business world. Through Northumbria University’s robust academic curricula and MDIS’ efficacious learning environment, you have acquired the learning outcomes and experiences that will bolster your knowledge and skills that are much valued by the industry.

6  For over 62 years now, MDIS and its global university partners have produced many graduates, who are successful in the industry. In fostering our graduates’ success, MDIS has built a trusted global brand, with an international footprint in Uzbekistan and Malaysia, and a presence across the region. MDIS Tashkent, the Institute’s first overseas campus established 11 years ago, is today a choice institution for students in Uzbekistan and Central Asia. This success is attributed to the support given by the late Uzbekistan President, Islam Karimov, whose presidential decree has helped in establishing MDIS Tashkent and fostered its growth.

7  Additionally, to meet the increasing demand for places and programmes, MDIS Tashkent is expanding with a new four-storey building and introducing a range of contemporary industry-relevant programmes which include Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, Global Logistics, Business and Human Resource Management, Fashion, and Innovation. The expansion of our education facilities in MDIS Tashkent has been made possible through the strong support given by the current President, Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

8  Kolej MDIS Malaysia, which is MDIS’ largest overseas campus, is slated for opening in 2019. It presents a multitude of exciting possibilities with offerings of new industry-relevant programmes to meet future industry needs. We were proud to host the Kolej’s first graduating cohort of 235 diploma students at the City Campus in City Square Mall this year.

9  MDIS has also established successful cooperative relationships with government bodies to deliver professional development and professional learning programmes that are customised for the civil service of the Gabonese Republic, Maldives, People’s Republic of China, Vietnam and Uzbekistan.

10  Our international market presence underscores our global and local branding. The MDIS brand and quality education programmes that we offer globally, continue to gain recognition and success in the industry. Last year, we clinched 4th place among 50 top companies in Singapore, in the Enterprise 50 Awards. The award is a mark of excellence in the Singapore business sector.

11  This year, we are proud to achieve a double win at the Singapore Prestige Brand Award (SPBA) 2018. This award recognises the best in the industry for outstanding achievement in branding.  We are one of the four winners, and above all, the overall winner in the Heritage Brands category.

12  Moreover, MDIS has emerged the winner of the “Best Business Programme Provider”, while the Management Development Consultancy, MDIS’ corporate training arm, won the “Best Learning and Development Provider” in the HRM Asia Readers’ Choice Awards 2018. With these awards, we stand ready to deliver more training and development programmes in fostering the “Singapore brand of education”. MDIS will thus continue to expand its customised programmes for businesses and government agencies in the region, and contribute to their success.

13  Graduates, as you leave your alma mater and venture forth to pursue your career, remember that the path forward is a continuous journey of self-awareness, reflection and confidence building to strive towards ever higher goals.

14  Improve yourself professionally. Expand your network. Stay connected with the MDIS Alumni to gain access to a wealth of networking opportunities, knowledge and skills. Continue to learn, acquire new knowledge and competencies. You should never stop learning. Make lifelong learning a part of your career journey. 

15  Finally, remember that what you have learnt at MDIS is not just lectures and tutorials. I urge you to remember the many values that MDIS has instilled in you. These values include meritocracy and diligence.

16  In closing, once gain I congratulate each and every one of you on your academic success. I wish you all the very best in your future endeavours.

Thank you.