Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 1st November 2016 – More than 600 students from various fields of study graduated from the Pannasastra University Cambodia (PUC) at the University’s 7th Commencement Ceremony since it opened in 2000.

Malaysian entrepreneur Vijay Eswaran was conferred the Honorary Doctorate in Economics and Global Business, the second such conferment in the University’s history.

Eswaran, the Executive Chairman of the QI Group, a conglomerate of companies with presence in over 120 countries, is a respected economist in several countries. A renowned speaker in forums such as the World Economic Forum and the Commonwealth Business Forum at CHOGM, Eswaran’s contributions are many. His latest endeavor is that of QI City, a 1.2 billion Ringgit joint-venture project in the State of Perak, which will see the development of a complete city, including retail, housing, education and medical facilities.

His inspiring speech encouraged the new graduates to be different and  ‘disruptive’ and to always think outside the box. “You, as graduates will have to change the way the world thinks. You will have to step into the future and create a brand new planet. You will have to reinvent the wheel”, he said.

In addition to the graduating students, the ceremony was also attended by local and foreign dignitaries which included H.H. Samdech Preah Mohha Sometheathibdie Nuon Ngeth, President of the Venerable Monks of Kingdom of Cambodia, H.E.  Sun  Chantol, Minister of Public Works & Transport, Cambodia, H.E. Dr. Ly Thuch, Senior Minister, Dr. Kol Pheng, Founder of PUC and Former Senior Minister as well as Former Minister of Education Youth and Sports and Vice Chairman of the Supreme National Council of Education, Dr. Frederick W. Clark Jr. Esq, President of Bridgewater State University, USA and representatives of the Embassy of Malaysia in Phnom Penh.