VC Ben Thomas Guest Speaker at IBS Graduation

Vice-Chancellor, Ben Thomas, former Dean of the School of Business at PAU, was guest speaker at the 12th graduation ceremony of the Institute of Business Studies (IBS) last Friday afternoon. The ceremony celebrated the achievement of certificate through to bachelor qualifications in business, accounting, information technology and computing. Mr Thomas was ushered in with the rostrum party, by the police brass band processional, followed by the graduands in striking gold and black trim academic regalia. In his speech Mr Thomas informed graduands that they are now in the top 2% of the PNG population with the privilege of a tertiary education. He went on to challenge graduands on the responsibility they now carry in fulfilling the aspirations reflected in Vision 2050 and urged them to be proud to be Papua New Guinean. Dr William Smart of Southern Cross University, Australia – an IBS partner for the degree programme – also addressed the audience. The graduands’ response from Mr Albert Morea was superbly delivered with a clever balance of humility and humour. He drew on an Emerson quote: “what lies behind us, and what lies before us, are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” Dr Tracie Mafile’o, PAU’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor, was also in attendance and was called upon to assist in the presentation of some special achievement awards. PAU is committed to forging mutually beneficial relationships with other higher education institutions both in PNG and internationally.