With his newBachelor of Commerce (BCom) degree from University Canada West (UCW) in hand, Jad Debai, a Vancouverite, originally from Palestine, is well into his Master of Business Administration (MBA) at UCW.

Debai doesn’t subscribe to the well-worn adage that “grass is greener on the other side” or in this case at another university campus.

No sooner did he savour the victory of graduating with a cumulative grade point average of 3.78 out of 4.33 in his BCom program than he plunged into pursuing an MBA at UCW.

“It’s hard to find a place that has what UCW has,” says the newly minted UCW alumnus who loves to network and was awarded the title of 2016 Valedictorian for his leadership potential. “I don’t feel like a stranger there; on top of the fact that I love the small classes and the atmosphere. I wasn’t motivated to investigate other university options because I am comfortable with what I have already found.”

As he did during his undergrad degree, Debai is getting the most out of UCW’s flexible programming, which enables students to study online, in-class or via a combination of the two. “Taking classes online and in-class will enable me to finish my degree faster,” explains Debai. “I hope to finish my MBA no later than March 2017. I’ll then be looking to apply all the skills I’ve gained in both my undergrad and graduate studies as a managerial understudy at an esteemed company.”

Debai believes UCW professors’ “amazing” dedication to students individually in smaller than conventional classes will inspire him to achieve the same academic excellence in his graduate work as he did during his undergrad years.

As for any difference in his learning experience as a graduate student compared to when he was an undergrad, Debai observes: “The professors give more tasks to the students and expect more. And I feel that we are exposed to a higher level of knowledge, one that is focused on the managerial aspect of business.”

“Currently, I am taking project management, managerial accounting, consulting practice and operations management. These courses focus deeply on the managerial aspect of business. I believe that these items will help me understand more of what I need to know as a future manager from different perspectives. That will help me become a well-rounded manager.”

Debai is leaning towards taking two qualifying courses, rather than doing a thesis, to fulfill the requirements for obtaining an MBA.

It’s at least a year and a half away, but Debai is looking forward to the day when he’ll once again cross UCW’s convocation dais with several relatives looking on with pride. “There is nothing more important than family in the whole world,” says Debai who revelled in being the centre of attention among family members who encircled him for a post-graduation photo opportunity this summer.

“I have been raised to know the value and power of knowledge and education and I’m lucky to have had the chance to pursue them at one of the best places in the world.”

UCW is part of the Global University Systems (GUS) international network of higher education institutions headquartered in the Netherlands. With institutions and affiliates across the UK, Canada, Germany and Singapore, the group educates more than 50,000 students from 160 different nationalities.

UCW delivers programs that provide students with the applied and theoretical basis for success in the workplace and future academic endeavours. Established in 2004 by former University of Victoria president David Strong, UCW offers quality education with courses that transfer broadly into the public education system. Courses are offered at UCW’s downtown Vancouver campus and online. For more information visit www.ucanwest.ca.

Carol Thorbes, Communications/Media Relations

1-604-915-9607 (ext. 2227), [email protected] (email best contact)

Jad Debai,+966508551770 (Saudi Arabia), 1-778-926-8483 (Vancouver, BC), [email protected](email best contact)