valedictorian speech for commencement

Valedictorian Speech for Commencement ceremony on 12th July 2006 10:00am

Mr. Pro-Chancellor, Mr. President,

Distinguished Guests, Fellow Graduates,

Ladies and Gentlemen.

Good morning.

Introduction

It is a great honor and privilege to give this speech on behalf of my fellow graduates and I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the graduates on this momentous occasion.

For most of us, this ceremony marks our entry into the harsh realities of the working world. The IT industry has seen tremendous change in the last few years. When we first entered the university in 2002, the industry was still reeling from the dot com bust and the economic downturn in 2001. This coupled with the local push for the life sciences as the new wave of the economy led to a feeling that the IT industry was in the doldrums. Fortunately for us, just as we were about to graduate, signs of a strong recovery are in sight with the formulation of the Intelligent Nation 2015 national IT master plan and the initiatives from the government to develop the local digital media industry. Another unique aspect of this industry is the relatively low barriers to entry due to the proliferation of private informatics schools, certification programs and online courses. This has led to an industry which is faced with professionals with a wide variety of abilities and competencies. Today, in the face of rapid changes and a competitive job market, a prime concern for graduates is perhaps how to distinguish ourselves from other professionals in this industry?

I would like to suggest three important characteristics of our graduates which we should leverage upon. These are a strong grounding in the fundamentals of Computing; the ability to integrate computing with other disciplines and having both soft skills as well as technical skills.

Training vs Education

A common complain among Computing students is the lack of training on specific technologies or tools that are currently used in the industry. Alt hough being well versed in certain programming languages or computer systems provide short term benefits such as allowing graduates to get off to a quick start, these technologies tend to be transient due to the short life cycle of technology. In contrast, having a firm understanding of the underlying computer science concepts provides the underpinnings which enables one to quickly pick up or even to create the new generation technologies. It is this independence in learning and applying new knowledge that will be crucial to a successful career in computing.

Beyond Computing

Besides being competent in computing, as graduates of integrated programs, we are also familiar with how Computing can be combined with other disciplines such as business, arts, engineering and science. This gives us a broad perspective of how Computing can provide solutions to problems in different domains. Therefore as graduates, we should look beyond becoming software developers or IT managers. Graduates should also think about taking non-IT jobs and then look at how they can use IT to create value for the business.

Soft Skills

However competency in technical skills is only part of what makes a SoC graduate. The ability to communicate ideas and work in teams are some example of soft skills that are important for career development. Group projects and class presentations gives us a chance to develop these skills while we are still in the university, while participating in extra curricular activities help us to develop better leadership and interpersonal skills.

Conclusion

In conclusion, as graduates we should be leverage upon the strengths of the education we have received to distinguish ourselves from others in this field. However we should not rest upon the laurels of our success but remember that the degree we have just received is but the key which opens the door of opportunities. It is how we choose to make use of these opportunities to continue to learn and adapt that will decide our future success. Once again I would like to congratulate all graduates and wish you all the best in your future endeavors.