AIC celebrates biggest graduation

It was the biggest graduation since AIC was formed in 2012.

Graduates completed their qualifications through Otago Polytechnic, Future Skills and Capable NZ.

Keynote speaker Ishant Ghulyani is an Ethnic Engagement Advisor at the New Zealand Parliament, a graduate of the Graduate Diploma in Applied Management and AIC’s first Student Representative.

He talked about his journey from working night shifts at Z to attending 8am classes at AIC, becoming Student Representative, working at the High Commission of India, becoming a Justice of the Peace and serving as President of the Wellington Branch of the United Nations Association of New Zealand.

“None of this was part of some perfect plan. One opportunity led to another. One person introduced me to another. One door opened another door. And slowly, a journey was created.”

He encouraged graduates to never forget where they come from, but also to embrace the place they are in and be grateful.

“Because there are thousands, probably millions, of people around the world who would love to have the opportunity that you have today.”

Bachelor of Applied Management graduate Lakshita Fulara gave the speech on behalf of AIC graduates.

Lakshita served as Student Representative for two years, making her AIC’s longest-serving Student Representative.

She said her journey was never just about attending classes or submitting assignments before deadlines.

“It was about becoming a completely different version of myself.”

She said sometimes the best part of education happens outside the classrooms.

“The people we meet, the conversations we have, the events we organise, the mistakes we make and the moments we share these are the memories that stay with us,” she said.

“When I had the opportunity to work alongside staff and students, I learned that a campus is not just a building where education happens. It becomes a community. And I feel incredibly lucky to have been part of that community.”

Chris White gave the graduate address on behalf of Capable NZ graduates.

Chris’s engineering career began 23 years ago in the UK. He graduated today with a Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Electrical Engineering.

He said a qualification isn't simply a measure of what we know. It is also evidence of our ability to persevere.

One of the greatest things he had learned during his own journey was that success rarely happens in one big moment.

“It happens through hundreds of small decisions. Starting that assignment when you'd rather be doing anything else. Asking for help when you don't understand something. Trying again when the first attempt doesn't work. And, perhaps most importantly, deciding not to give up. Those small decisions eventually become something much bigger. They become today.”