Higher education in ASEAN has experienced remarkable growth and transformation in recent years. In 2020, the ASEAN region had over 11,000 higher education institutions, and the number of students enrolled in tertiary education exceeded 23 million, a substantial increase from previous years.

Our education arm Quest International University (QIU) located in the colonial city of Ipoh in Perak, Malaysia, has seen thousands of graduates walk through its doors. More recently, QIU hosted its 7th convocation ceremony, where young innovators and changemakers will go on to carve a new life for themselves.

Among them was Lim Yong Xin, a 23-year-old graduate with congenital visual impairment, who earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Diagnosed with glaucoma at age 6, her unwavering determination and resilience earned her first-class honours despite the many obstacles she faced.

Among the hundreds of young graduates this year, two newly minted MBA graduates are mid-career professionals who juggled a full-time job at the QI Group with the rigorous demands of their academic coursework.

Srikanth K Thyagarajan and Johny Nagarethenam proved that if you are driven by passion to learn, you can find a way to achieve your goals though the journey will be challenging. Both work for our subsidiaries, with Srikanth as the Head of Business Solutions for QNET and Johny as a Manager for The V.

Bachelor of Pharmacy graduate Leo Shann Ling was named valedictorian for her first-class grades, natural flair for leadership, and keen sense of community service. She received QIU’s top scholastic prize for her outstanding efforts – the Dato’ Sri Vijay Eswaran Award 2023.

QI Group’s Executive Chairman, Dato’ Sri Vijay Eswaran, who also serves as the Chairman of the University Council, gave his commencement address at the convocation.

His message rang clear for the graduates – Adapt, Adjust, Accommodate. He stressed the need for graduates to develop the right attitude and be prepared to reprogramme and redesign themselves to meet the ever-evolving needs of the modern workplace. He encouraged them to be open to change and growth and not to let failures dampen their spirit.

At the convocation, Dato’ Sri Vijay also gave the graduates and families a glimpse of the future QIU campus, which will occupy a 10-acre site at Gunung Lang, Perak, in Malaysia. The QI Group recently launched an asset-backed Islamic bond with Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Berhad as the main subscriber, to support the expansion of this education venture.

Do read some of our media coverage here

QIU Aims to Produce More Graduates and Develop Top Talent in Malaysia

QIU Celebrates Aspiring Innovators, Change-Makers at 7th Convocation Ceremony