Two hundred and forty-two UIC graduates received their Bachelors' Degrees from HKBU President and Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ng Ching Fai at HKBU's 50th Commencement on 7th November 2009. This was UIC's first commencement ceremony since its foundation in 2005, and the graduating class was the first to have studied in the Mainland and received Hong Kong academic degrees. All graduates who received the HKBU Bachelor's Degree would also be given a Certificate of Graduation by the Ministry of Education of China.
UIC Graduates Recieved HKBU Bachelor's Degrees from Prof. Ng Ching Fai
The Commencement started at 3pm at the Academic Community Hall of HKBU Ho Sin Hang Campus. Mr. Cheng Yan Kee, JP, Deputy Chairman of the Council and of the Court declared the opening of the Commencement. Prof. Ng Ching Fai presented the graduates Bachelor's Degrees and posed for joint photos with them. The graduates received congratulations from Mr. Cheng Yan Kee, JP, and their respective Division Deans before they returned to their seats.
UIC Graduates with Their HKBU Bachelor's Degrees
After the conferment of degrees, Prof. Ng Ching Fai addressed the graduates. He said: "At this commencement ceremony I am very pleased to see the first class of graduates of the Beijing Normal University-Hong Kong Baptist University United International College (UIC) in Zhuhai, the outcome of close collaboration between Beijing Normal University and our University. As far as the Baptist University is concerned, the establishment of the UIC is the fulfillment of a mission of our time, and our contribution to China's educational reform. Through UIC, Baptist University has broadened the space and scope for higher-education development in Hong Kong, and provided young people herewith more opportunities for tertiary education. It has also functioned well as another platform for scholars and students of Baptist University to build their liaison and networking with the Mainland. "
A tea reception and a dinner were held later on for guests and graduates who took pictures with UIC administrators and teachers, parents and friends.
Career Opportunities, or Graduate Studies
Career opportunities for UIC's first graduating class had been good. Many graduates entered accounting firms, banking companies or foreign-owned enterprises, including KPMG and ALS Laboratory Group Hong Kong. A good proportion of the graduates chose further education and had been accepted by Hong Kong University of Technology, Hong Kong Baptist University, University of Technology, Sydney, The University of Western Australia, etc. Li Zhiyuan, a UIC graduate who is now a graduate student at Brock University in Canada said: "UIC students were immersed in an environment with both foreign and local culture. Having international vision, they have a lot more choices than students from mainland universities when planning their career paths."
Xie Che, a UIC graduate who is now a fulltime graduate student in Finance at HKBU said UIC's model of education and English teaching was most helpful to him. He said he was once offered a chance to work for HSBC Bank, but he chose to work for his master's degree at HKBU.
Another graduate from the Finance major Xu Jie said they were among the first to come to UIC because there was a lot to explore, and the platform to improvise was open. He was very grateful for the special experience at UIC.
UIC enrolled 274 first year students in 2005. Now the total enrollment is more than 3800 students, covering both Category 1 and Category 2 students. In December 2008, the Hong Kong University Grants Committee conducted an evaluation of UIC, and gave a positive review on its teaching and learning performance.
The number of graduates was a bit smaller than the initial enrollment number in 2005. Prof. Ng said this was due to the strict requirements of HKBU's quality assurance system. Prof. Ng said UIC graduates must measure up with other HKBU graduates.
The Commencement attracted wide media coverage, including Hong Kong newspapers Ta Kung Pao, Singtao, and Ming Pao and Mainland media organizations CCTV, Xinhua News Agency, Nanfang Daily, Southern Cosmopolitan, Guangzhou Daily, Zhuhai Daily, Information Times, and New Express Daily.
Reporter: Cheryl Chen, Richard Xu
Photographer: Jia Shuo, Chen Mengxing, Tan Yuxiang
Media and Communication Office
