UCCI Holds Spring Graduation

The University College of the Cayman Islands will hold its commencement ceremony for its class of 2021 at 7:30 p.m., April 24. More than 200 students will receive degrees or certificates in the program, which is limited to 500 attendees, but which will be live streamed via UCCI’s Facebook page.

Tom Jenkins, chairman of OpenText Corporation, will deliver the keynote address during the evening ceremony. Jenkins, a Cayman resident, was CEO of the Canadian-based OpenText, one of the largest tech companies in the world, for more than a decade and spent more than 20 years with the company. It was a three-year-old fledgling startup when he joined the company in 1994. Today it is worth an estimated $12 billion. He has a long list of accomplishments in the tech industry and in education. Part of his address, he said, will focus on the importance of taking risks.

UCCI President and CEO Stacy McAfee said it is an honor to have Jenkins speak at the commencement event.

“In the past several years, Tom has chosen to involve himself with UCCI to help promote career paths in computer and digital science,” McAfee said. “This is especially important as Cayman looks toward creating more tech companies and we look at ways in which to provide graduates for that burgeoning industry.”

McAfee said moving the commencement ceremony to a spring date was a way to meet student needs.

For years, UCCI has been honoring its graduates during the first week in November. The practice was designed to accommodate those graduating after the school’s summer semester and to avoid conflicts with high school graduations in June. Often, those graduates who had gone on to study at colleges and universities overseas, were unable to attend the fall ceremony.

“We want to be able to celebrate the accomplishments of our students in person,” McAfee said. “This gives all graduates a better opportunity to attend commencement and receive the accolades they deserve.”

The move also brings UCCI in line with traditional international practices.

The programme will include addresses by McAfee, Board of Governors Chairman Mark Scotland and other dignitaries. It will also feature live performances by the UCCI Dancers and the UCCI Choir.

If you are interested in starting your success story at UCCI, visit our website at ucci.edu.ky or set up an appointment with our admissions team by calling 623-0567.