HIGHER education allows the individual to remain humble and not egoistic, says the University of Fiji Vice Chancellor Professor Shaista Shameem.
While delivering her address at the University of Fiji graduation ceremony at the Saweni Campus in Lautoka yesterday, Prof Shameem commended the 308 students for their milestone achievements.
A total of 39 students received gold medals for their respective outstanding academic performances.
“I draw a deep breath because when I see all the graduates lined up in beautiful clothes, ready to receive your hard-earned certificates from the Chancellor, with your families proudly accompanying you,” she said.
“I feel I am back there amongst you excited and somewhat in wonder, that I finally made it.
“I know, it is not an easy road here from when you were all at 17, just out of high school. Some of you are older students, of course, much harder for you as you have to juggle work and family.”
Prof Shameem said adjusting to a new environment, making new and lifelong friends at the university while coping with new and incomprehensible rules were challenges.
“The University of Fiji, with its limited resources, nevertheless provides you with something unique and precious – a reflective, advanced and holistic way of thinking deeply about everything, whether it is Humanities and Arts, the Sciences, Technology, Law, Medicine, Fiji’s Languages and Cultures, and Business and Economics.
“It is not what we teach, in terms of subject areas, at UniFiji, but how we teach it, that is the secret of our success.”
Prof Shameem urged the graduates that privilege must be earned, not bestowed based on educational qualification.
