UB Graduates 530; New President and Mayor Bradley Speak
On Saturday, five hundred and thirty students graduated from the University of Belize with diplomas at the Bachelor’s, Associate’s and Certificate levels in areas of Education and Arts, Management and Social Sciences, and the Science and Technology faculties. This is the first commencement exercise under the leadership of Professor Emeritus Clement Sankat, having been appointed to the position earlier this year. Here’s a snippet of his address to the graduates on Saturday. Sankat noted that he wouldn’t be talking of any accomplishment and growth over the past year, but he took the opportunity to share some words of advice to the graduates.
Clement Sankat
Professor Emeritus Clement Sankat, President, UB
“So, as you graduate my dear students, a few quick thoughts. Number one, you need to become entrepreneurial, creative, business like and be active problem solvers. In order to succeed, you must build your life and your work thoughtfully, in the midst of many hurdles you are going to face. Today is a great day, savor it. The moment you step out there in the real world, look for the challenges that are gonna come your way, but there are opportunities too. I want you to also remember another thing, unlike the time when I graduated we all felt there was a job out there waiting for me. As an engineer – Ministry of Works or the Oil Company in Trinidad – all kinda jobs. The world out there changed. You know what you have to do, prepare your minds from now that you may have to create not only your own jobs but create jobs for your fellow Belizean citizens that is the reality. I don’t want you go out there feeling Government will have a job waiting for you – and they may have – you lucky – they may have; teachers, nurses, etc… But many of you will have to become very entrepreneurial. I have often heard it said, people say life is hard in Belize; difficult to be an entrepreneur, well there may be merit in what is being said but that should not stop you from trying; that shouldn’t be an excuse. There is opportunity and you need to find it. It takes planning, discipline, determination, hard work and dedication to succeed. I think what is going to define you, our graduates, you have not only a degree and some of you have a business degree; I think that training that you have here combined with an entrepreneurial spirit are basic ingredients for you to succeed as entrepreneurs and I think the export sector is where some of you should put your vision. Belize needs to export a lot more; the manufacturing sector, and certainly the service sector – the hotels, tourism industry, small businesses, etc…, in the creative and festival arts and that is something I would really like to see here in Belize; some programs in festival arts, creative arts to support the tourism industry. So, I am working on that, too.”
Belize City Mayor, Darrell Bradley, gave the commencement address.
