The Matriculation Ceremony of Parami University was held on Tuesday, August 9, 2022, to welcome the inaugural cohort of undergraduate students. Parami University class of 2026, composed of 53 students from all over Myanmar and select regions in Thailand, will begin their first week of orientation on August 11, 2022, and study for their associate degrees and bachelor's degrees online.
More than 100 invited guests from around the world attended the event, including the Parami University Board of Trustees, President of Parami University, President of Bard College, faculty, students, parents, donors, supporters, and staff.
This Matriculation Ceremony marks students' formal admission as the inaugural class of undergraduate studies at Parami University. Dr. Kyaw Moe Tun, the President of Parami University, officiated the Matriculation Oath.
Zali Win, Chair of Parami University Board of Trustees, Dr. Romina de Jong, Dean of Academic Affairs of Parami University, Dr. Kyaw Moe Tun, President of Parami University, and a keynote speaker, Dr. Leon Botstein, President of Bard College, expressed a warm welcome to the students and the parents and guardians of students and encouraged students to make the best out of themselves throughout their college years.
Zali Win acts as Chair of the Parami University Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees (BoT) is an official governing body of the university, overseeing the strategic planning and overall growth and well-being of Parami University.
Zali Win, Chair of Parami University Board of Trustees, addressed in his opening remark that,
"I have been involved in bringing education in many places around the world for more than 30 years. Seeing this actually happen, to see you here despite what is going on in the worlds around you, teaching you to develop the skills necessary, is at the heart of our education mission. And we expect you to use your education, the academic discipline you learn here to make the world a better place, once stop closer to a more perfect world. Today, the founder and president, Dr. Kyaw Moe Tun’s vision and dedication has brought us to this celebration.”
As the Dean of Academic Affairs at Parami University, Dr. Romina de Jong leads the Academic Department overseeing the academically-related administrative work. She also teaches various subjects such as Pedagogy and Educational Psychology, Social psychology, Learning and Development, Design Thinking, Action research, Academic skills, and Gender.
"The university is such a place where you will transform yourself and your thinking…During your college years, one of your most important responsibilities is to shape yourself and make the best use of the freedom you have. College years are also memorable because it's a journey in so many different developmental areas, personally, socially, professionally, sometimes romantically, intellectually, and academically. That is what lies ahead of you from matriculation to graduation; you will transform your thinking and your view of the world. You will change and transform into someone different than you were when you entered your college years. You're not going to turn into a nerd or a nutty professor. This is a Liberal Arts and Science Institute, but instead, you will become a well-rounded individual with crucial 21st-century skills, such as communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity, the four C's of the 21st century," Dr. Romina de Jong, Dean of Academic Affairs of Parami University, told students at the ceremony.
Despite the relenting changes, Parami's mission remains unwavering to establish a liberal arts and sciences institution to provide quality education to young people. Dr. Kyaw Moe Tun, the President of Parami University, expressed his gratitude to all the supporters and individuals who are continually involved in supporting Parami University in different ways.
"Welcome students, parents, faculty, and invited guests. It is truly my honor and privilege to witness this day. It has been a long time coming through many windy routes and journeys to reach this day, and we look forward to even better days ahead. Parami has withstood the test of many challenges. Congratulations on your admission to the University. You have demonstrated excellence, dedication, and hard work. More importantly, you have demonstrated your concerns and care for the community that you live in and your aspirations to better your communities and beyond. And for that, I thank you. And I believe that we can serve as an ideal place for you to empower yourself even more to benefit society, "Dr. Kyaw Moe Tun, the President of Parami University, delivered his speech at the Matriculation Ceremony.
Parami University and Bard College have developed an agreement to offer dual degrees to Parami undergraduate students. The dual degree program will allow Parami University undergraduate students to obtain academic credits from Bard College and be awarded associate degrees from both universities. Ultimately, the institutions seek to award dual Bachelor of Arts degrees—one from Parami University and one from Bard College—subject to further approval by relevant authorities and committees.
As a keynote speaker, President Leon Botstein of Bard College remarked,
"use your time well as students, and be grateful for the opportunity to develop in yourself a sense of hope, ambition, idealism, and capacity to frame and then realize your most cherished dreams…I want to say from the start that Bard is committed to helping grow the university and that we have enough experience with dual degree programs...I pledge that the college will do whatever I can to support and encourage promise autonomous as a first rage institution that provides young people with a liberal education."
About Parami University
Parami University is a private non-profit liberal arts university. Parami University aims to provide a quality education for youths from Underdeveloped Communities in Southeast Asian Countries. Parami students will experience liberal arts and sciences education through a collaborative and immersive learning environment where students can develop well-rounded knowledge from different disciplines.
This Fall 2022, Parami University offers two online Bachelor of Arts degree programs: Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) and Bachelor of Arts in Statistics and Data Science (SDS). Parami's undergraduate degree programs are licensed under the Higher Education Licensure Commission (HELC) of Washington, DC, in the US.
The classes are fully synchronous and delivered using advanced education technologies with world-class faculty. Parami University will provide room and board at some select learning hubs in different cities for students who do not have stable internet and electricity. The learning hubs are also designed to enhance student collaboration, networking, and engagement while studying at Parami University.