Reflections from the EIU–Paris Graduation Address to the Class of 2026
Graduation ceremonies are often centred on achievement. Degrees are awarded, milestones are celebrated, and graduates leave with credentials representing years of effort, sacrifice, and perseverance.
But during the EIU–Paris Graduation Ceremony for the Class of 2026 in Malaysia, the message delivered by Hon. Ky. Col. Prof. Dr. Edward Roy Krishnan, Founder and Director General of EIU–Paris, focused on something deeper than academic accomplishment alone.
At the centre of the address was a question posed directly to graduates:
“Why am I here on earth?”
It was not framed as a philosophical exercise, but as a challenge to think beyond qualifications, titles, and immediate career goals. Because while degrees may open doors, purpose is what ultimately gives direction to knowledge, ambition, and long-term impact.
Education Beyond Credentials
Degrees and qualifications remain important, but Dr. Roy challenged graduates to think beyond credentials alone. In an increasingly competitive and rapidly changing world, clarity of purpose and intentional action become the real differentiators.
Throughout the address, Dr. Roy repeatedly returned to the importance of authenticity and meaning behind action. For him, education is not simply about producing graduates, but about developing individuals who understand why they do what they do and the kind of impact they hope to create.
This perspective also shaped his reflections on higher education itself. Referencing conversations surrounding doctoral completion rates, he questioned the idea that exclusivity and extreme attrition should be treated as indicators of academic prestige.
Instead, he emphasised that educational institutions should focus on developing and strengthening people through the learning process.
“An education institution should bring people in, build them up, and send them out stronger.”
The Common Thread Behind Impact
To explore the idea of purpose more deeply, Dr. Roy reflected on individuals from different fields and generations, including Steve Jobs, the Wright brothers, and Marie Curie.
Despite their vastly different backgrounds and pursuits, one common characteristic connected them all: clarity about what they were trying to contribute to the world.
For Steve Jobs, it was the vision of making technology feel intuitive, human, and accessible to everyday people.
For the Wright brothers, it was the belief that human beings could fly despite rejection and limited resources.
For Marie Curie, it was a commitment to scientific discovery despite poverty, exclusion, and the barriers faced by women in science.
The point was not that all graduates must become historic figures. Rather, it was that meaningful contribution often begins with clarity of purpose long before recognition or success arrives.
“The why is the engine. Everything else is the vehicle.”
This same perspective was reflected in Dr. Roy’s own approach to education, which he described as a commitment to expanding meaningful access to learning and addressing the global inequity that still prevents many individuals from accessing higher education. In this sense, purpose extends beyond personal success toward solving broader societal challenges.
Purpose Beyond Graduation
Ultimately, Dr. Roy encouraged graduates to think beyond credentials alone and reflect more deeply on the direction behind their ambitions.
Degrees, skills, and achievements remain important, but purpose is what gives them meaning. For graduates entering a rapidly changing world, the challenge is not only to succeed professionally, but to understand why that success matters and how it can be used to contribute meaningfully over time.
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