Tears of joy filled the air as First City University College graduates celebrated their success at the graduation ceremony. It was a memorable moment for graduates as their hard work demonstrated throughout their education journey has borne fruit.

Amongst the graduates from Diploma and Bachelor levels, forty eight graduates were conferred first class honours from various disciplines including Business Administration, Business Management, Accounting & Finance, Marketing, Design & Built Environment, Engineering & Computing.

The event was well-attended by First City UC’s top management executives, namely its Chancellor, Y Bhg Tan Sri Dato Seri Dr Hj Yahaya bin Ibrahim, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr. Mak Chai, Board of Governors Chairman, Y Bhg Tan Sri Dato’IR (Dr) Teo Chiang Kok, Director, Y Bhg Prof Tan Sri Dato’ (Dr) Teo Chiang Liang, Chief Operating Officer Ms Yeong Yin Cheng and representatives from foreign education partners.

Addressing the graduating class of 2017, First City UC Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Mak Chai said, “Nothing is permanent. The only constant element in life is CHANGE. The world of today is very global, increasingly connected, competitive and complicated. It is inevitable that you will face new challenges and it is also inevitable that things may seem a little different in the years ahead. The value and benefits of your learning, your knowledge & ‘know-how’ will definitely have a great impact not only for you personally, but also for your family, for your community, country and the world at large. Therefore, ensure that you never stop to learn new knowledge, skills and techniques through life-long learning. Our doors remain open to you to further your studies”.

Prof Mak emphasised that First City UC will continue to grow as an institution of choice for higher education, building greater national and international branding for its academic excellence and producing highly employable graduates and entrepreneurs.

Delivering his vote of thanks, Lionel Jeshurun Poore who received the Excellence Award in BA (Hons) Marketing, said: “Our achievement today belongs not only to us but also to our family, to our lecturers who have guided us throughout our studies and our friends who stuck by our sides throughout the 3 years’ journey. I would like to express my deepest appreciation to First City UC for providing us the means and skills to prepare us for the future”

He noted that First City UC is always vibrant with a healthy mix of different cultures, making his education journey at the campus very colourful and interesting.

Lam Kar Mun, an Excellence Award recipient from BEng (Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering expressed her gratitude to her classmates and lecturers.

“We have obtained quality education which makes it a stepping stone to our future. I am thankful for my learning experience at First City UC and I am convinced that we have lived up to the institution’s motto- Way Ahead. We are now ready to step ahead, bold and confident to face the real world and contribute our skills and knowledge to the society”.

Ibrahim Hasan bin Taleb who hails from far away Yemen, a first class graduate from BA (Hons) Graphic Design expressed his appreciation for the multi-cultural community at First City UC.

“Teaching and learning process is exciting with its cross cultural interaction but the programmes are also provided at an affordable price,” he added.

A special student was glowing with happiness when she received her much coveted degree. 22-year-old Ainaa Farhanah Amali, overcame many obstacles to achieve her dream. Commencing her Diploma in Interactive Design at First City UC, she continued to study BA (Hons) in Graphic Design.

Ainaa expressed her appreciation for the state-of-the-art facilities available at the campus, especially amenities for the physically-challenged.

“Being physically-challenged, I had a hard time finding an institution to further my studies. But, when my parents and I visited First City UC, it was all that we wanted in an institute of higher learning. From the day I joined till I graduate, the lecturers and the students were very helpful and caring. First City UC has helped me to achieve my dream of receiving a tertiary education,” she said.

First City UC’s Chief Operating Officer, Ms Yeong Yin Cheng said: “For Ainaa, nothing can stop her from pursuing her dreams despite the challenges she faced. Ainaa should be everyone’s inspiration. We are very proud that Ainaa is graduating today”.

With its legacy of 26 years, First City UC is well-known for producing award-winning and highly sought after graduates. Placing emphasis on student achievements, First City UC showcases student projects and portfolios in specially-designed public exhibitions such as the Design Graduation Showcase, Sequence, and Engineering and Computing exhibition, Innovation Day. These exhibitions attract potential employers, corporation and the public, where in many instances students of First City UC are offered employment on the spot by industry leaders.

The institution’s state-of-the art teaching and learning facilities coupled with strong linkages with international universities and established multi-national companies ensure that students are taken through an enriched education journey.