CQU, in conjunction with the Hartford Institute in Singapore, has recognised two husband-and-wife couples who share the same degrees, during this week's graduation ceremony (5pm Thursday, November 4).

Husband and wife team Zhang Chunmei Michelle and Woon Yi Siong Jeremy (pictured below on their wedding day) have graduated with Bachelor of Business degrees, while Peh Wee Meng Biarrowitrz and Tan Teck Shin Christina (pictured right) both graduated from the CQU Master of Business Administration program.

Michelle has been working in the private education industry. She spent 1.5 years with Hartford Institute as an executive and is currently a sales and marketing manager with the International Centre for Early Childhood.

She said she found her interest growing in the field of business, especially in marketing.

“My prior education background was in computing and I was not really interested in that discipline,” she said.

“I also realised the need for a Bachelor qualification as it is a neccessity in Singapore to find a good job. In addition, I was also convinced that Hartford and CQU had a very good program in terms of course content, administration, customer service and academic support from both local and faculty members.

“The course fees were also very attractive and I was impressed by the awards won by CQU as a distance education provider internationally.

”After completing the program, I was able to effectively apply what I have learnt into my current job. Also the amount of knowledge gained from the lecturers and fellow classmates were immense and very valuable. I believe it has provided me with a strong background in sales and marketing which I believe will be extremely useful when I commence my MBA next year, and of course, CQU is still my choice.”.

Jeremy spent two years in sales for a safety consultancy firm but is currently working as a safety consultant in a gas supply company.

He said he took up the Bachelor of Business degree with Hartford/CQU as he was quite comfortable with Hartford and had heard from friends that CQU was quite a renowned university in Australia.

”It certainly helped in my career advancement. My current employer actually employed me because of my qualifications.".

Meanwhile, a former HR executive and now cadet pilot for Singapore Airlines, Biarrowitrz and his wife Christina, an education officer in a secondary school, specialising in music, English literature and English language, enrolled in the CQU degree because it "fitted our lifestyle in more ways than one".

"The degree could be completed between one and 1 1/2 years, there was no dissertation required and finally, the course fees were reasonable and affordable," Christina explained.

"The tutors were really good too - helpful and experienced in their fields.

"I guess for non-business graduands like both of us, a course like this was able to pitch it at the right level.".

Christina explained that the program gave them room for self-discovery, but also space for application of new concepts learnt on the job.

Since completing the degree, the couple is now keeping their eyes open for business opportunities where they can make a name and living for themselves.

"I guess it is not everyday that we get to fulfil our dreams together - to embark on this MBA together and to end it together," Christina said.

A total of 63 students of the graduating group attended the graduation function in Singapore.

Guest speaker at the ceremony was Mr Gay Chee Cheong, Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of 2G Capital Pty Ltd. Mr Gay was JIT Group's Group Executive Director and Managing Director to the various JIT companies in Singapore and overseas during the four years he was there. He holds directorships in a number of companies in Singapore and also sits on the board of several listed companies.