FOR Yap Lai Wei, awards and recognition are just by-products of doing well academically rather than sources of motivation.

The 20-year-old, who was named valedictorian of ALC College’s recent graduating batch, said that getting good grades was a matter of personal satisfaction.

“I just wanted to maintain the good results I got in school, and I never thought I’d win any awards for my studies.

“I also thank my lecturers for guiding and teaching me so well,” said the accounting graduate.

Business studies graduate Rani Vijayakumar, who was a top student in her cohort, also thanked her lecturers for motivating her.

“It feels really good to be graduating today, after the years of hard work, and I’m looking forward to the working world!” said the 24-year-old.

Lai Wei and Rani were among the 405 graduates who received their scrolls at ALC College’s convocation ceremony in Subang Jaya last week.

Among those present at the convocation were PKT Logistics Group group chief executive officer and managing director Datuk Michael Tio and the United Kingdom-based University of Gloucestershire’s deputy vice-chancellor (Academic) Dr Richard O’Doherty.

ALC College is a subsidiary of PKT Logistics, while the University of Gloucestershire is one of the college’s education partners.

Tio congratulated the graduates and offered them advice based on his philosophy of doing business.

“First, thou shalt not be jealous of others’ success; thou shalt learn from them and be appreciative; and thou shalt give back to society when you are successful, without expecting something in return.

“Many corporate companies just focus on making a profit for shareholders, and they tend to neglect the needs of the society around them.

“So they push their employees to the maximum; this simply pressures everyone to earn more money without thinking about their happiness or well-being,” he said.

He added that companies should not see corporate social responsibility (or CSR) efforts as just “giving away money”.

“I don’t believe in waiting to only give back to the community after the company makes a profit, because sustainable CSR means making that profit responsibly in the first place, with social and environmental awareness.

“This is why we chose to get involved in education as well, to improve the quality of graduates to meet industry needs.

“Since we own the college, it’s easier to bridge the institution with industry to give students practical knowledge beyond the theory in their textbooks.

“We try to impart our approach to CSR on the students here as well, by getting them involved in projects that are socially and environmentally conscious as part of their studies,” he said.