KUCHING: The love, care and concern to produce quality graduates has earned I-Systems Group of Colleges’ chief executive officer Dato John Tiong international recognition.

(From left) Dr Jerip, Tiong, Lo Celso, Lim and Giacalone after the award presentation ceremony.

He received the Athena Medal from the International Humanitarian Association (IHA) of Italy yesterday for his involvement in providing training for youths as part of his life culture.

IHA president Prof Dr Luciano Lo Celso presented the special award to him at I-System Kuching’s new campus at Muara Tabuan here yesterday, and the event was witnessed by Assistant Public Health Minister Datuk Dr Jerip Susil.

During the ceremony, a similar award was also conferred on Singaporean Goshen Gold’s advisor Robin Lim.

Dr Jerip said Tiong deserved getting the recognition as he had continually provided training opportunities for youths in urban and rural areas.

“From what I have observed, Dato Tiong and his colleagues have been putting in lots of efforts to ensure rural youths have the opportunity to go far in their education.”

Dr Jerip said the most remarkable thing about I-System Group of Colleges was that it did not simply provide training to youths in various fields, but also ensured what the students learned met market demands.

“As a matter of fact, we have quite a high bit of unemployment and the problem is that the students are not up to the mark, but for I-System Group of Colleges, we are happy their students are highly marketable.”

Meanwhile, Tiong, in expressing his gratitude to Lo Celso for the award, pledged that he and his team would continue to help develop local youths.

Present were IHA chief executive officer Michele Giacalone and Goshen Gold director Albert Poh.

(Taken from The Borneo Post)