The London Met team flew over to our partners in Sri Lanka for graduation.
Date: 27 July 2016
On Monday 4 July 2016 the Vice Chancellor, Professor John Raftery, Dr Simon Jones (Dean, Guildhall School of Business and Law), Dr Wendy Bloisi (Head of Partnerships, Guildhall School of Business and Law) and Dr Hazel Messenger (Master of Business Administration (MBA) course leader and Academic Liaison Tutor) attended the University’s graduation ceremony with their partners ESoft in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The School has two successful courses running at ESoft and this was the first cohort of graduates for the MBA and the second cohort of graduates for the Business Administration (BBA) BA (Hons). ESoft is keen to develop its partnership with the University and Dr Wendy Bloisi is currently in discussion with them about developing an LLB and a BA (Hons) top-up in Hospitality Management and Travel and Tourism Management. Partnerships are a growing source of income for the University and enable students to study for our degrees in their home country.
The London Met team was welcomed in a traditional manner and the ceremony began with the academic staff from both organisations proceeding into the auditorium accompanied by traditional dancers. The Vice Chancellor and the rest of the party were then invited to light oil lamps to symbolise auspiciousness, prosperity and abundance. This tradition is built on the belief that the light brings brightness and, in doing so, it dispels darkness so that individuals begin to see things clearly. The oil used to light the lamp represents negative human tendencies, with the wick of a lamp symbolising the ego. The flame, which always looks up, represents spiritual knowledge that evolves towards a higher consciousness.
Dr Simon Jones spoke to the graduates about the potential to use their qualification throughout their career to be at the very centre of decision-making, rather than being on the outside unaware of what decisions were ever taken.
The graduates’ family and friends were invited to attend alongside the teachers and staff who have supported them throughout their studies. This year's was the first cohort to graduate from London Met’s Master of Business Administration (MBA). One MBA graduate was Dr Dayan Rajapakse, the President of ESoft. Dayan has described the course as "life-changing" as it has allowed him to interpret organisations and plan effective actions in ways that are innovative and far-reaching.
Simon said: "This just goes to show how the MBA can enhance and develop business careers all over the world. Congratulations to all the students who graduated from ESoft and it was a pleasure visiting our partners in this beautiful country."
During the ceremony Hazel was presented with a University Teaching Fellowship in recognition of her contribution as a creative, passionate and student-centred teacher deeply engaged with pedagogic development and research. Hazel said: "I am delighted to have been awarded this fellowship by the University and for the presentation to form part of the ESoft graduation ceremony. I have learnt a great deal from working with colleagues in Sri Lanka and hope to be able to use the role to promote the transformative potential of working in partnership."
Congratulations again to our graduands in Colombo, we are looking forward to the ceremony next year.
You can also take a look at the pictures from the ceremony on Facebook.
