Today as is our tradition, it is pleasure to share with you some thoughts that I hope you can embrace and carry with you as you move on in your lives and ahead in your chosen fields of endeavor.
Today, I wish to make three interconnected points: first , UNESCO's declaration concerning university education, second, some thoughts and my aspirations for you, and lastly, AU's Vision 2000.
As the dawn of the twenty-frist century arises, a universal recognition of the growing role and importance of Higher Education or University Education for society and the individual emerges. At the UNESCO Conference on Higher Education held in Paris in October 1998, UNESCO declared that the supreme mission of Higher Education is to serve society and the individual. Accordingly, the objectives of a university education should be :
- to help solve societal problems of national, regional, global and local origin ;
- to contribute to progress towards the improved economic, social, cultural, intellectual and moral well-being of both society and the individual
- to contribute towards the attainment of : peace, freedom, universal respect for human right and democratic way of life.
As knowledge itself is universal and as the globalization process and interdependence of nations become interwined, university education as now conceived takes on a universal vision. A universal vision "whose purpose is to bring about a more just and equitable society." Accordingly, UNESCO has declared, among many other things , the principle, "The university of higher education implies that it should have a guiding ethical role at a time when there is crisis of values. "In this context, UNESCO elaborates :
"Faced with the perverse effects poorly understood globalization and the dangers of unbridled - that is, uncivilized - capitalism…" align "…with the rise of selfish interests and an all-pervading relativism, higher education must proclaim loudly and clearly a scale of universal values…" where "we takes precedence over 'I'…" A society "…in which science and technology are employed for the benefit of all humanity and not in the selfish interests of various powerful entrepreneurial and political parties, and in which solidarity comes before competition…"
Echoing this same line of thought. Sadruddin Aga Khan, writing in Newsweek Magazine, on October 12, 1998, quite rightly pointed out that unlimited, uninhibited, unbridled global free trade has proved illusory and that
"many economists, politicians, social activists and environmentalists saw these dangers (free-market failures and their consequences) coming. But in the last decade their voices have been drowned out by fundamentalists of free trade who, claiming the defeat of communism, abandoned common sense as well. What is needed now, and for the future, is a restored sense of balance, moderation and humanity,"
At this time, dear Graduates, I wish share with you my thoughts and aspirations as they reflect on the responsibilities entailed in the objectives previously noted. Now, they are entrusted to you as you depart from your Alma Mater and step into the career world. I hope that your years at AU have equipped you with enough knowledge and, hopefully, to a great extent, forged the strength of character needed to wage and win a good fight. To be able to shoulder such responsibilities requires :
- on the hand, self sacrifice and the spirit of dedicated citizenship for the common good of the society and its moral well-being,
- on the other hand, a good deal of moral courage and strong convictions.
Armed with these ideals, you will be able to face and overcome hostile environments polluted with corrupt practices, greed and fraud. In the end, respect for human rights and the spirit of democracy will prevail.
This then represents both a challenge and a call to all professors, graduates as well as students to help solve society's economic problems. Interdependence ensures that truly 'we'-based solutions to social problems will favorably impact the global economy. Bearing this in mind, professors are urged to exercise intellectual curiosity and creative thinking aimed at developing new unique models or paradigms in constructing a more just and equitable society.
Before I close, let me quickly share with you Assumption University's Vision 2000. We see ourselves as a truly international community of scholars fully engaged in the pursuit of Truth and Knowledge. We see both faculty and students drawn together by a Christian ethos focused on serving humanity through the creative use of interdisciplinary approaches and cybertechnology.
To these ends :
we will continue to develop and implement strategies that focus on innovative student centered teaching.
we will give added stress to the building of internationally-aware and socially conscious leaders in all fields of endeavor,
we will strive to produce service-oriented and ethically inner-directed men and women who are a credit to society, to themselves and to Assumption University.
Our Vision 2000 for you, the AU Graduate, is no less challenging. We envision our Graduate as :
- A healthy open-mened person, characterized by personal integrity, an independent mind, and creative thinking.
- Professionally competent and wiling to exercise responsible leadership in the pursuit of economic progress within the confines of a just society,
- Able to communicate effectively with people from all nations and every sphere of life and ready, willing and able to participate in the globalization process.
In summary, UNESCO's recent pronouncements concerning the supreme mission of a university are a reflection of what Assumption has believed in and has been in pursuit of for many years. You are the end result. A result of which I am quite proud and happy.
Finally, go forward into the world with confidence… you are ready to meet the challenges that lie ahead. Do look back for others who come after you. They may need a helping hand. Assumption will always be here -- your Alma Mater -- a fostering mother.
* mens sana in corpore sano - a sound mind in a sound body
Prathip Martin Komolmas, f.s.g., Ph.D. President
February 6, 1999
