Graduation Ceremony – University of Technology

 

 

Speech - Graduation Ceremony – University of Technology

Monday 23 at 13.30 hrs – Octave Wiehe Auditorium, Reduit

The President Board of Governors of UTM

The Acting Director-General of UTM

The Acting Registrar

Heads of Schools

Dear Parents and Graduands

Ladies and Gentlemen

I would like to congratulate all the students who have completed their studies and will be graduating today.

We have come a long way. Indeed, when the UTM was set up in 2000, as usual, there was skepticism about its raison d’être or its capacity to respond to the needs of a developing country like ours.

Let me say at the outset that the founders of UTM had a different vision for this institution. It was meant to be an ‘out-of-the-box’ institution that would keep up pace with the country’s economic development. How far have we met these initial objectives spelt out as per the founders’ vision?

When UTM started, we wanted it to be A University with a Difference.  In 2000, it had only two schools: the School of Public Sector Management and the School of Business Informatics and had around 200 or so students.

Today the university has 5 schools all geared towards providing quality education to young and mature students alike.

Dear students,

This university has given the chance to thousands of students to follow higher education programmes. This is the policy of the Government to increase access to higher education. We have been promoting the concept of  one graduate per family – which is not for those children who already know that they will go to the university, but for those children who do not even think of going to the university – who believe that university is not for them.

We are creating new modern infrastructure in different regions – Montagne Blanche, Pamplemousses, Reduit, Piton and one in the south to provide for decentralized access to higher education. You should know that these projects would not have been implemented without the support of the Prime Minister. It is under his Government that free transport  was introduced.

Students are also now benefitting from additional scholarships based on merit and social criteria – which will support students from low income families.

While we are increasing the number of students, I have to request the Chairperson, members of the Board and the management of UTM to give priority to quality enhancement at all levels. Student facilities should be improved and library and other resources should be upgraded. Research and publications should be increased so as to improve academic standards.

Allow me to extend my appreciation to the students and specially to the parents. Government in general and my ministry in particular are fully aware of the value that parents bring to the education of their children.

It is with this in mind that we have devised various methods, ways and means to ease the financial situation of parents who have to send their children to universities and other institutions of learning here and abroad. My ministry and the Government will continue to support you.

One graduate per family is not an empty slogan. This is a policy that will stand the test of time. We are on target and realistically our endeavours will bear fruits for generations to come.

Today more than ever before, tertiary education is a sine qua non condition for a successful career. The very foundations and economic success of the newly industrialised countries (NIC) lie on literacy and education, especially tertiary education. To you graduands, I have this to say to you. This is not the end of your very long journey. This is the beginning. Career development and success is not a destination. It is on-going, painstaking journey. Your qualifications, academic or professional, will open doors for you. They will make jobs accessible to you.

A few years down the line, you will have pleasant reminiscences of your student life at UTM. You will know then that the time spent  at UTM was worth the investment. No matter, what sector of employment you choose to go into and wherever you are in the world, always do your very best to the best of your ability and do us all proud. With this note, I wish you all the best in your career. And to your parents as well, I say thank you for having entrusted us with your children and for continuing to believe in us.

Thank you ladies and gentlemen.