UMT Graduation Ceremony 2016:

Dr Eric KWONG, 2016 UMT DBA Graduate Representative

Dr. Kwong used his stories to encourage the fellow to embrace the lifelong learning mindset in order to stay competitive and sail smoothly through any transitions. Starting from September 2016, he will start his new teaching position as Assistant Professor at BNU-HKBU United Interanational College, Zhuhai.

In a rapidly changing environment, education has become ever more important.The idea of jumping into a permanent job that lasts until retirement is obsolete. My experience tells me that one must embrace the lifelong learning mindset in order to stay competitive. By constantly upgrading knowledge and skills, an individual can always be prepared for the arrival of new opportunities or challenges and sail smoothly through any transitions.

One of the obstacles I face as an educator in the tertiary sector is that my office hour is relatively unstable. It is difficult for me to settle aside time for a traditional face-to-face DBA programme. Fortunately, the UMT distance programme allows me to pace my own study with maximum flexibility. I can put a hold when my work is busy, and double my efforts when term break or vacation comes.

Looking back, I have managed to learn many contemporary knowledge and develop useful research, analytical and problem solving skills with the UMT programme. The UMT staff and my dissertation supervisor have been both professional and supportive throughout my DBA journey. Though my DBA programme is coming to an end, the education of a man is never completed until he dies. The end of one stage is only the beginning of another. I hope there are passionate individuals who would share my aspiration and join me on the lifelong learning path.

Dr. Eric Kwong
DBA, UMT US

Dr Carey CHEUNG, 2016 UMT DBA Graduate Representative

“As long as there is an idea, everything can be achieved.”

I studied full-time doctoral program in the United States for one year but did not finished the course and went back to Hong Kong for work as an IT professional and part-time Instructor in local University for 28 years.I have a dream that it should be fulfilled in my life, “To finish my doctoral degree”.

Four years ago, I worked as an Operation Manger in Dongguan and started to search the doctoral program offered byvarious University but did not find any programs that were suitable for me.That's because my study time didn't allow me to be so flexible.Someday, I went through the list in Hong Kong Education Bureau and found the name of UMT offering the doctoral program. After reviewed the UMT website, it offered a distance learning programwhichwas suitableto my particularcondition, so I applied without any hesitate.

Three years have passed, I overcome many challenges in the learning process., particularly working on the dissertation. It turned out to be both exciting and rewarding as I was in a fortunate position to be able to combine both worlds, an integral theory perspective at the UMT, and a practical view on the topic from working in Dongguan and Hong Kong.I recognized that the pursuit of my DBA is not a solo journey and without all these people in UMT that have assisted me throughout these years, none of this would ever have happened.

There are one word in my life, “As long as there is an idea, everything can be achieved.” With this distance learning theprogram,I make my idea come true. This doctorate program is only the beginning, and as a reminder, that learning is a continuous process in my life.

Dr. Carey Cheung
DBA, UMT US