By GEORGINA MICHAEL
A total of 182 students graduated during 13th graduation ceremony of the Institute of Business Studies (IBS) College yesterday.
The students received level three and four certificates in Accounting, Information Technology, Human Resource and Business.
The graduation marked a significant milestone achievement in the development of the college programs as well as a life changing moment for those that attained the certificates. Students that completed level 3 certificate can now continue to level 4 certificate and those that completed level 4 are now automatically eligible to enroll with the IBS University.
Three level four certificate students with straight HDs were given four years full scholarship at the IBSU.
Of the 182 students graduated, 48 graduated with level four certificate in Accounting, 58 in business, 34 in information technology and 17 in human resource management while 6 graduated with level 3 certificate in accounting, 10 in business, and 9 in information technology.
The graduation ceremony was witnessed by guest speaker and Chief Executive Office of the Brian Bell Group of Companies, Cameron Mackellar.
Other guests included Talent Acquisition Manager for Steamships Limited Wasa Malu, head of IBS College Sagara Wijeratne, as well as parents and students.
Mr Mackellar gave a recount of his life journey while highlighting key points for students to take along as they begin a new journey in their lives.
“Enjoy a life experience education as well as an academic experience education, meet new people engage and have good communications with them. Enjoy what you do, the more you enjoy it the more rewards you can get for it.Be confident in your ability and always be passionate about it while working for it with purpose .”
Mrs Malu told the graduating students what was expected of them as new graduates by the private sector.
“It’s not just about you receiving the certificates at the end of this journey, it’s also about the commencement of the next journey. It is about you applying the skills and knowledge that you have gained here out in the industry.
” I encourage you to always be adaptable to the new working environment and have a problem solving mindset that regardless of the limited number of resources available to actually get the job done in time, you can still get it done. Learn to maintain professionalism and safety at the workplace and that includes professional communication and never to let go of your reputation but to keep on building it.”
In his closing remarks, Mr Wijeratne thanked sponsors for their partnership agreements to employ new graduates and trainees.
He added that IBS College was looking forward to signing more partnership agreements with new organizations, as well as introducing tradesmen courses in the future.