Venkat Raman
Education should not only foster the right attitude in people but also make them good partners in economic growth and social progress of the country, a leading educationist from India has said.
Delivering the keynote address at the Graduation Ceremony of Auckland Institute of Studies (AIS) on Monday, September 18, 2017 at Bruce Mason Centre in Auckland’s North Shore, Colonel Kanwaljit Singh Gujral, owner of the Noida (India) based Indo Horizon said education should also open the pathway for individual well-being and community development.
“Education should also help to reduce poverty, enhance employment opportunities and create wealth for the country. Today’s students are future leaders,” he said.
Proud Achievers
More than 500 people including 280 graduates attended the ceremony graduating with Diplomas, Graduate Diplomas, Bachelor Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Hundreds more received their qualifications in absentia.
AIS qualifications were awarded across a range of programmes including Business, Hospitality Management, Information Technology, Tourism Management and TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages).
Colonel Gujral said that he and his Indo Horizon were proud to represent AIS in India for the past 15 years and that they established the first offshore delivery site for the Institute in the Indian Subcontinent.
“Please stay focused on your studies, foster the right attitude, recognise opportunities that are often in front of you and leave the world a better place. This gathering for the graduation ceremony fortifies my belief that if we wish to achieve extraordinary results we need to make extraordinary efforts,” he said.
Building for tomorrow
Colonel Gujral encouraged the fresh graduates to celebrate their special milestones with AIS, their families and each other before shifting their focus to their careers ahead.
“A true champion does not waste time on what he or she has already achieved but deliberates on feats that are meant to be achieved in future. For you are the youth, you are the future, what you do today will decide our tomorrow,” he said.
Important quotients
AIS Chief Executive John Wood said that a person’s physical, emotional and spiritual quotients are equally important in career development.
“The ability to persevere, exercise self-control, have compassion, appreciate diversity, and see the bigger picture were all qualities that are imperative for success in life. If you are planning to be a successful leader, you need to improve your EQ and SQ from now on,” he said.
The Institute recognises all students who have successfully completed their studies in the previous 12 months at the graduation ceremony.
“Graduating from AIS is not as easy as other private tertiary institutes in New Zealand. We are a Category 1 provider and we keep our academic and quality standards as high as public universities. AIS graduates should therefore be proud of their achievements,” Mr Wood said.
More than 27,000 students, have graduated from AIS since its establishment in 1990. Of these, 5600 students received degree-level qualifications.
MBA (International Business) graduate Jia Wei Wang delivered the Valedictory Address while Kennedy Chitsamatanga from the MBA February 2012 programme spoke on behalf of AIS alumni.
Photo Caption:
- AIS President Dr Julia Hennessy with John Wood and Colonel Kanwaljit Singh Gujral
- Business Lecturer Saida Parvin with students at the Graduation Ceremony
(Pictures by Gareth Cooke, Subzero Images)
- Edex Academy NZ Managing Director Prince Kumar, Colonel Kanwaljit Singh Gujral, Dr Julia Hennessy and AIS Deputy Chief Executive Richard Smith
